An analysis of 486 Facebook posts trending in Iraq on September 22, 2025, conducted by Miqrab AI, reveals a landscape dominated by political maneuvering ahead of upcoming elections. The most significant story revolves around a statement by Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr on the social media platform “X,” which has fueled widespread debate about boycotting the elections versus participating. This is contrasted with calls for participation from figures like Hadi al-Amiri and discussions about the potential consequences of a Sadrist boycott. Other prominent narratives include intense political rivalries, commentary on the country’s economic progress and living standards, Iraq’s position in regional diplomacy, and updates on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani’s development and industrial projects.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Statement on “X” Stirs Political Scene

The most impactful story of the day is the announcement that cleric Muqtada al-Sadr published a statement on his personal account on the social media platform “X.” While the specific content of his post is not detailed in the shared content, the very act of him posting has generated significant attention. Pages like The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 100%) and Saraya al-Salam – Central Media Directorate (Post Impact: 4%) amplified the news. Analyst Mohammed Jabbar (Post Impact: 30%) linked this to a Sadrist election boycott, framing it as a move that “flips the table” and could “choke” the rival Coordination Framework. The high engagement indicates the significant influence al-Sadr holds over the political discourse in Iraq, where his statements are closely watched for their implications on national politics and elections.

2. Debate Intensifies Over Election Participation vs. Boycott

A major theme across Facebook is the heated debate over the upcoming elections, largely fueled by the Sadrist movement’s boycott. Maraya (Post Impact: 11%) and From Baghdad (Post Impact: 13%) both reported on a statement by Hadi al-Amiri claiming that “he who does not participate in the elections is as if he supports the Ba’ath!” In contrast, pages like Ahmed Althawaq (Post Impact: 27%) discussed the social pressure, noting that those who choose to vote are sometimes attacked, and questioned what alternative boycotters are proposing. The conversation reflects a deep societal division over the legitimacy and effectiveness of the current political process, with some viewing participation as a duty and others seeing a boycott as the only viable form of protest.

3. Ousmane Dembélé Named World’s Best Player for 2025

Sports news captured significant attention as Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé was reportedly named the best player in the world for 2025. Football-focused pages celebrated the achievement. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 50%) straightforwardly announced the news, congratulating the player. Similarly, Set Ashwaq Umm al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 34%) shared the update, humorously remarking on the stress Dembélé’s past injuries have caused fans, stating, “How much money we spent on you for treatment and hospitals, you were in the emergency room daily because of you.” The coverage highlights the popularity of international football among Iraqi social media users.

4. Al-Washah Escalates Feud with Political Rivals

Political commentator Ahmed Alwashah is at the center of a highly-publicized feud with rivals, which was covered by journalist Sahar Abbas Jamil (Post Impact: 42%). In a clip from her show on Al-Nahrin TV, Alwashah is shown describing figures identified as “Qais and Shibl” as “gangsters” and threatening, “I will come to Baghdad and step on their noses.” In a separate video on his own page, Ahmed Alwashah (Post Impact: 35%) made accusations against another figure, Salam Adel, claiming with alleged documents that he “works two lines, resistance in the morning and with the Israelis at night.” This public conflict highlights the sharp and often personal nature of political rivalries being aired on Iraqi media platforms.

5. Hanan al-Fatlawi’s Remarks on Living Standards Spark Debate

Comments by politician Hanan al-Fatlawi regarding the improvement of living standards in Iraq have generated considerable discussion and criticism. According to the Iraqi Media Center (Post Impact: 38%), she stated that for 35 years, the Iraqi people longed for “bananas and Pepsi,” and now they have salaries, travel, and cars, yet no one is satisfied with the political system. This perspective was strongly rebuked by commentators like Dr. Ali Al-Qaisi (Post Impact: 8%), who argued that true progress is measured by dignity, justice, and functional state institutions, not consumer goods. Al-Qaisi asserted that the people “were hungry for dignity” and the current system has failed to provide it.

6. Petraeus Meets with Syrian Leader Ahmed al-Shar’a

Multiple pages reported on a meeting between former US General David Petraeus and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shar’a (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani). Pages like The Tactical Cell (Post Impact: 27%) and Dr. Hamid Abdullah (Post Impact: 23%) highlighted the irony of the meeting, noting that al-Shar’a was detained by US forces in Iraq from 2006 to 2011, a period when Petraeus was the commander of those forces. Dr. Abdullah commented that the meeting is a clear embodiment of the saying “politics is a whore, the daughter of whores,” while The Tactical Cell remarked that if someone had seen such a picture in 2013, they would have called it “dreams of the afternoon.”

7. PM Sudani Promotes Industrial and Housing Projects

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani’s activities focused on economic development were widely covered. His official page, Engineer Mohamed Shia Al Sudani (Post Impact: 36%), shared a post with the quote, “The sound of machines and factories remains the loudest sound.” This message aligns with his government’s focus on industry, as also noted by Dr. Hanan al-Fatlawi (Post Impact: 7%), who mentioned the launch of the “Babylon, the industrial capital of Iraq” project. Furthermore, The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Media Office (Post Impact: 9%) reported on a meeting Sudani chaired to follow up on the new Ali Al-Wardi residential city project, emphasizing its role in solving the housing crisis.

8. Iraq Excluded From Trump-Led Meeting on Gaza

A post by Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 37%) highlighted Iraq’s exclusion from a special meeting reportedly being organized by Donald Trump to discuss ending the war in Gaza. The page noted that leaders from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, and Pakistan are expected to attend. The post points out the perceived diplomatic snub, stating that Iraq was not invited despite the presence of its president in New York, its material and moral support for the Palestinian cause, and the involvement of Iraqi factions in the regional conflict.

9. Speaker al-Mashhadani Stresses Independence of Sunni Waqf

The Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, issued an official statement emphasizing the need to maintain the independence of the Sunni Endowment (Waqf) from political disputes. In the statement shared on his official page Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (Post Impact: 32%), he warned against the “danger of mixing religion and politics” and stressed that the endowment’s resources and religious pulpits must not be exploited for partisan or electoral purposes. Al-Mashhadani praised the government’s recent change in the leadership of the endowment and affirmed that the parliament will continue its oversight to ensure the institution remains independent and unifying.

10. Saraya al-Salam Disavows One of Its Members

The Central Media Directorate of Saraya al-Salam announced it was disavowing one of its members, Haider Karim Rahim al-Fariji, also known as Mullah Haider al-Fariji. In an official statement posted on its Facebook page, Saraya al-Salam – Central Media Directorate (Post Impact: 33%), the group declared his “disavowal” due to his “violation of general directives” after follow-up and verification. The statement called on everyone to boycott al-Fariji and cease all dealings with him, indicating an internal disciplinary action within the Sadrist-affiliated group.