Based on an analysis of 489 Facebook posts trending on July 21, 2025, Miqrab AI found that the dominant narratives in Iraq revolved around the intense societal and emotional impact of the sixth-grade national exam results, which manifested in stories of tragedy, humor, and inspiration. Other major themes included government accountability following the tragic fire in Wasit, key policy announcements from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani regarding energy independence, and a political dispute involving journalist Mona Sami. The conversations reflected a mix of public frustration, political scrutiny, personal triumphs over adversity, and everyday social commentary.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Tragic Consequences of Sixth Grade Exam Results

The announcement of sixth-grade exam results has been linked to tragic events, dominating Facebook conversations with stories of students taking extreme measures due to academic pressure. Ahmed Waheed (Post Impact: 100%) shared a highly engaged video reportedly showing a female student attempting to jump from a bridge because she was unhappy with her score. Similarly, East of Iraq (Post Impact: 25%) reported on the death of Hanin Arkan Al-Ghalbi, a student in Dhi Qar, who died from a severe nervous shock after her family was mistakenly informed she had a high score of 99.57%, which was later corrected to around 70%. Her relative claimed she shot herself after the devastating news, turning what was a celebration into mourning. These posts highlight the immense psychological stress students face during this critical academic period.

2. PM Sudani Pledges Gas Self-Sufficiency by 2027

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s announcement regarding Iraq’s energy future gained significant traction. His official page, Eng. Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 34%), shared a direct quote stating, “By the end of 2027, there will be self-sufficiency in securing gas for all operating and new stations.” This promise was made during the launch of a project to rehabilitate and expand the Dora power plant in Baghdad. The news was amplified by pages like Al-Khowa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 13%) and From Baghdad (Post Impact: 2%), which framed the announcement as a move towards ending reliance on gas imports and achieving energy independence.

3. Humor and Social Commentary on Exam Result Pressure

Alongside tragic news, many pages used humor to comment on the social pressure surrounding the sixth-grade exam results, particularly the role of relatives. The satirical page Set Ashwaq Umm al-Qanounia (Post Impact: 48%) posted a joke congratulating her nephews on a combined score of 99, revealing one got 54 and the other 45. In another popular post, the page joked, “Hammoudi, come back home, your father says your score is 94 not 49, the office made a mistake.” This narrative of family pressure was also highlighted by Ahmed Waheed (Post Impact: 12%) in a comedy reel depicting how relatives react to the results. These posts satirize the intense scrutiny students face from their extended families.

4. Celebrating High-Achieving Students Amidst Hardship

Inspirational stories of students who achieved exceptional results despite facing significant adversity were widely celebrated. The page Thezelma (Post Impact: 36%) praised Azhar Rabie Saleh for achieving a perfect score of 100 while living in a rented house and caring for her sick brother, noting she did so without private tutoring or modern technology. This story was also shared by Baghdad (Post Impact: 4%), which described her achievement as “born under a dim light.” Similarly, Abu Al-Arif (Post Impact: 5%) highlighted the story of Parsa Sabah from Tuz Khurmatu, who re-took the exams to improve her score from 95% to achieve a perfect grade, relying solely on textbooks to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.

5. Protests in Wasit Demand Governor’s Dismissal After Fire

The deadly hypermarket fire in Wasit has led to sustained public anger and protests demanding accountability. Pages like Yalla (Post Impact: 2%) reported that demonstrators are continuing their sit-in, insisting that “blood cannot be bargained for” and calling for the dismissal of Governor Mohammed Al-Mayahi. Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%) shared that protestors had begun setting up tents in front of the provincial council building. MP Sajjad Salim (Post Impact: 2%) announced he had collected parliamentary signatures to formally request the Prime Minister to sack the governor, holding the government responsible for any delays in the investigation.

6. Journalist Mona Sami Responds to Khamis al-Khanjar’s Complaint

Journalist Mona Sami addressed a complaint filed against her by politician Khamis al-Khanjar. In a post, Mona Sami (Post Impact: 21%) clarified that she was asking a guest a question about a comparison made between al-Khanjar and the historical figure Yazid bin Muawiyah, not stating it as her own opinion. She distinguished between a question and a statement, writing, “there is a difference between me saying ‘Khamis al-Khanjar is the Yazid of our time’ and me asking my guest ‘Why did you say Khamis al-Khanjar is the Yazid of our time?'” She also questioned why being compared to Yazid would be considered an insult, given the figure’s connection to the Umayyad state. Journalist Sami Al-Maala (Post Impact: 2%) posted in support of Sami, praising her professionalism and intellectual independence.

7. ‘Shortest Day in History’ Phenomenon Captures Attention

A scientific news item about July 22 being the shortest day in history was shared across several Iraqi pages. Telescope Iraq (Post Impact: 9%) explained that the Earth’s rotation would be slightly faster, making the day shorter by a fraction of a second. The page noted that while imperceptible to humans, the change is detected by atomic clocks and could lead to the introduction of a “negative leap second” if the trend continues. This unusual astronomical event was also reported by Diyala Diyala TV (Post Impact: 6%) and Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 2%), sparking curiosity among their followers.

8. Corruption Allegations Against Wasit and Baghdad Officials

Videos alleging corruption by high-level officials in Wasit and Baghdad circulated on Facebook. Journalist Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 28%) published a video confronting the Governor of Wasit over an alleged financial deal worth 600 billion dinars, directly asking him, “Did you receive the money in advance?!” In a separate incident, the page Ardah (Post Impact: 12%) shared a clip in which Baghdad Provincial Council member Haider Mohan described being blackmailed with his daughter by a network allegedly led by the retired governor, Abdul Muttalib al-Alawi. Both posts point to serious accusations of financial and moral corruption against powerful figures.

9. Journalist Steven Nabil Holds Talks in US Congress

Journalist Steven Nabil documented his meetings with American lawmakers in Washington D.C., focusing on the future of Iraq and the region. In one post, Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 17%) shared a photo and mentioned a dialogue with Republican Congressman Andy Biggs about “what is next” for Iraq. In another update, he shared details of a conversation with Congressman and member of the Armed Services Committee, Abe Hamadeh, about developments in Syria, Iraq, and the broader region. These posts suggest an effort to engage with US policymakers on issues pertinent to Iraqi and regional stability.

10. Prime Minister Sudani’s High-Level Political Meetings

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s official meetings with Iraqi and American officials were a topic of discussion. The PM’s page, Eng. Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 5%), reported on his meeting with the new Speaker of Parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, where they discussed cooperation between the executive and legislative branches and preparations for the upcoming elections. In a separate key meeting reported by the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 4%), Al Sudani received the commander of the U.S. Central Command, General Michael Kurilla. Discussions focused on the transition to bilateral security relations and the evolving cooperation between Iraq and the International Coalition against terrorism.