Based on an analysis of 490 Facebook posts conducted by Miqrab AI on July 13, 2025, the dominant narrative in Iraq revolves around political maneuvering by the Sadrist movement ahead of upcoming elections. Posts from accounts associated with Muqtada al-Sadr garnered the highest engagement, outlining conditions for potential political alliances centered on national sovereignty and state control. Other significant trends included internal disciplinary actions within the Sadrist movement, government announcements concerning public sector employment and promotions, and widespread social commentary on cultural figures and the intense summer heat. Human interest stories, particularly those involving personal tragedy, also resonated strongly with Iraqi audiences.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Sadr Sets Conditions for Electoral Support

The most impactful story of the day originated from a post by Wazir Alqaed (Post Impact: 100%), a page associated with Muqtada al-Sadr’s aide Saleh Mohammed al-Iraqi. The post details a meeting in Al-Hanana where al-Sadr questioned which political blocs could commit to a platform of “independence without subordination… restricting weapons to the state… dissolving militias…” and fighting corruption. The statement implies that the Sadrist movement might direct its supporters’ votes to a bloc that meets these criteria, asking, “What guarantees can be taken from them in exchange for giving them the votes of the honorable?” This narrative was further amplified by pages like Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 7%) and Hussam Alhaj (Post Impact: 6%), which summarized the proposed electoral program, highlighting its focus on state-building and reform.

2. Social Media Feud Involving “Set Amtar” and “Set Ashwaq”

A significant social media drama involving influencers “Set Amtar” and “Set Ashwaq” captured widespread attention. Page Journalist Qahtan Adnan (Post Impact: 22%) posted a video sarcastically comparing “Set Amtar” to a cat, fueling the controversy. Meanwhile, Set Ashwaq, Mother of the Law Student (Post Impact: 14%) announced her page’s official verification and issued a warning to impersonators, directly mentioning “Set Amtar.” In another post, the same page made social commentary on women using affectionate names for their husbands on social media, contrasting it with men’s behavior. The satirical page Khan Jghan (Post Impact: 3%) also weighed in with a fabricated story about politician Hadi al-Amiri gifting a book to “Amtar.”

3. Sadrist Movement Disavows Members for Disobedience

The Sadrist movement publicly disavowed several of its members for violating orders. A statement from The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 30%) announced that Muqtada al-Sadr had disavowed a group of individuals belonging to the “Shiite National Movement and Saraya al-Salam” who had disobeyed his commands, calling on them to repent. In a related context, Hakem Al-Zamili (Post Impact: 11%) condemned what he called “smear campaigns” and “poison” from certain individuals against al-Sadr and the Sadrist movement, suggesting these attacks are attempts by “losers and the bankrupt” to gain electoral advantages through stirring sedition.

4. Sympathy for Grieving Mother of Six Sons

A human interest story shared by Latest Iraqi Events (Post Impact: 27%) drew significant engagement and sympathy. The post reported the death of a mother whose six sons served with her every year in the Imam Hussein procession. The page shared that the sons were “very broken” over their mother’s passing and requested followers to pray for her soul. This type of post, focusing on family, faith, and personal loss, resonated deeply with the page’s audience, highlighting a common theme of shared public grief on Iraqi social media.

5. PM Al-Sudani Discusses Employment for Medical Graduates

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s government addressed the issue of employment for medical and health professionals. The official page of Engineer Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 21%) and the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 4%) reported that he chaired a meeting with the Ministers of Finance and Health to discuss mechanisms for appointing graduates from 2024 and the remainder of 2023. According to the posts, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Finance to prepare a “comprehensive plan” to resolve the issue based on available financial allocations and the needs of health institutions.

6. Ministry of Interior Announces Officer Promotions

Several pages reported on the promotion of officers within the Ministry of Interior. The Media Office of the Minister of Interior (Post Impact: 4%) announced that Minister Abd al-Amir al-Shammari had issued the promotion schedule for July 2025. In a subsequent post, the same page showed the minister personally awarding the new ranks to a number of promoted officers, emphasizing that they are deserving of the promotions and that the new ranks come with greater responsibility. This news was also shared by the official Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 3%) page.

7. Social Commentary and Humor About Summer Heat

The extreme summer heat was a recurring topic of discussion and humor across multiple pages. Telescope Iraq (Post Impact: 6%) provided a scientific explanation for why nights remain hot, attributing it to heat stored during the day by asphalt and concrete. The same page also posted a satirical piece suggesting Iraqis visit colder planets like Neptune and Uranus to escape the heat. Pages like Hassan Zuher Hakim (Post Impact: 4%) shared humorous videos, with one joking that the weather felt like it had a “thread of coldness.”

8. Pages Circulate Anti-Militia Messages

A coordinated messaging campaign critical of militias was observed. The pages Tele Iraq (Post Impact: 6%) and Tele Iraq Media (Post Impact: 6%) both shared an identical graphic with text stating, “Militias claim to protect us, but they exploit us. This is not security, it is extortion.” The posts encouraged users to share the image to “reveal the truth about militias,” indicating an effort to shape public opinion against armed non-state actors.

9. Celebrating Mosul Surgeon Dr. Rasha Al-Yuzbaki

Several pages celebrated the academic and professional achievements of Dr. Rasha Al-Yuzbaki, a neurosurgeon from Mosul. According to East of Iraq (Post Impact: 4%) and Maraya (Post Impact: 3%), Dr. Al-Yuzbaki achieved first place in the Arab Board examination for brain and nerve surgery. The posts highlighted not only her academic success but also her humanitarian work, including treating poor patients for free. The page The Zelma (Post Impact: 4%) used her success as an example of a valuable Iraqi woman who deserves recognition over “trivial” social media personalities.

10. Satirical Football News About Chelsea FC

Sports commentary, including satirical content, was a notable trend. The page Al-Khawa Al-Nadifa (Post Impact: 13%) shared a fabricated news report claiming that “Chelsea is crowned Club World Cup champion for the second time in its history after a landslide victory over Paris Saint-Germain 3-0.” This post appears to be satirical, as the event did not happen. In a more serious tone, Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 2%) commented that “Chelsea will be a tough competitor if it continues with this performance and stability,” reflecting genuine interest in the football club’s prospects.