Based on an analysis of 447 Facebook posts trending on May 19, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most prominent conversations centered on provincial politics, particularly in Basra, where Governor Asaad Al-Eidani faced accusations of corruption while simultaneously overseeing controversial housing demolitions that sparked a backlash and intervention from the Prime Minister. National-level government actions were also a major topic, including a planned internet shutdown for student exams and a coordinated effort by pro-government pages to highlight Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s achievements. Discussions on foreign policy, security incidents, and urban development projects in Baghdad also featured heavily, painting a complex picture of Iraq’s current political and social landscape.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Basra Governor Accused of Granting Favors to Watchdogs

Facebook pages are circulating allegations of corruption against the Governor of Basra, Asaad Al-Eidani. The most engaged post on this topic, from Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 88%), claims the governor has granted land, cars, loans, and a residential complex to employees of the Integrity Commission and the Financial Supervision Bureau, questioning who could possibly hold him accountable now. This narrative is echoed by Ammar Al-Halfi (Post Impact: 5%), who criticizes the governor for distributing land plots worth over a billion dinars to ministers from outside Basra while informal housing for the poor is being removed. The posts frame these actions as a way to curry favor and avoid scrutiny.

2. Basra Housing Demolitions Spark Political Backlash

A significant story trending on Facebook involves the removal of informal housing in Basra and the ensuing political and social reaction. Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 28%) reports that in response to the demolitions, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani has directed authorities to find suitable alternatives for residents before any removal, emphasizing the need to consider humanitarian aspects. However, Iraqi Media Center (Post Impact: 3%) claims that Governor Asaad Al-Eidani is defying the Prime Minister’s directive, stating the decision to remove encroachments is final. Pages like Ammar Al-Halfi (Post Impact: 10%) and La Manea with Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 5%) shared videos showing the affected residents, defending them and demanding alternatives be provided before their homes are destroyed.

3. Nationwide Internet Shutdown for Student Exams

Multiple pages reported on the Ministry of Communications’ decision to cut internet service across Iraq to prevent cheating during the third-grade intermediate national exams. Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 36%) announced that the internet will be cut daily from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. starting the next day, stating this was done at the request of the Ministry of Education. This was confirmed by the Iraqi Ministry of Communications (Post Impact: 5%) itself in an official notice. Pages such as Diyala TV (Post Impact: 8%) and Nafs Iraq (Post Impact: 8%) also shared the news, wishing the students success in their exams.

4. Pro-Government Pages Praise PM Al-Sudani’s Leadership

A clear narrative praising Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani’s performance is being promoted by several pages. Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 37%) highlights that in two and a half years, the Prime Minister has never responded to his attackers, framing him as a leader focused on construction and development who does not look back. The Prime Minister’s official page, Engineer Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 12%), supports this image by posting about official duties, such as chairing meetings on financing private sector projects to achieve economic reform and contracting with international firms to improve Iraq’s credit rating.

5. Debates on Iraq’s Foreign Policy and Alliances

Discussions about Iraq’s foreign policy direction are trending, with a focus on building pragmatic relationships with neighboring countries. The page Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 21%) published a post arguing that Iraq must pursue its interests by fostering relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, and must abandon ideological objections related to them being “Persian,” “Wahhabi,” or “Brotherhood.” The same page, in another post, Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 14%), specifically identified Qatar as Iraq’s closest Gulf ally, citing over $47 billion in investments and Qatari support. This engagement is substantiated by a post from the Iraqi Council of Representatives (Post Impact: 7%), which reported on the Speaker’s official visit to Qatar.

6. Criticism of Pro-Iran Influence at Arab Summit

While some pages celebrated the security arrangements for the Arab Summit in Baghdad, others offered sharp criticism of its political outcomes, blaming pro-Iranian influence for undermining its success. Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 12%) reported that Interior Minister Al-Shammari granted security forces a 10-day leave for successfully securing the conference. In contrast, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 3%) wrote a detailed critique arguing that the Coordination Framework and pro-Iran factions “spoiled the summit,” specifically pointing to the widely circulated photo of National Security Advisor Qasim al-Aaraji meeting with Iran’s IRGC Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani during the summit, calling it “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

7. Viral Video Prompts Probe into Ministry Employee’s Misconduct

A video of a Ministry of Trade employee threatening workers has gone viral, leading to an official investigation. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 5%) reported that the Minister of Trade has ordered a committee to investigate the incident, in which the employee was seen speaking to workers in an inappropriate manner. Similarly, Baghdad Eyes (Post Impact: 3%) noted that Prime Minister Al-Sudani had directed the minister to investigate the employee’s threats to have workers fired and “dragged” if they did not comply with instructions. Commentator Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 5%) also weighed in, sarcastically telling the employee, “Go ahead, drag them now lady… we’ll see your end.”

8. Baghdad Removes Concrete Barriers in Mansour District

Multiple pages are reporting on the removal of concrete blast walls in Baghdad’s upscale Mansour district as a sign of improving security and a return to normalcy. Maher Muhi :: Voice of the Nation’s Protectors (Post Impact: 3%) announced that Baghdad Operations Command was removing all concrete blocks surrounding the Al-Rahman Mosque to reduce traffic congestion. This was also reported by Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%). Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 4%) congratulated the residents of Mansour on the removal and questioned why such barriers were still in place in other residential areas.

9. Pages Showcase New Development Projects in Baghdad

Several Facebook pages are highlighting new construction and development projects in Baghdad, presenting an image of a modernizing capital. Iraq Projects (Post Impact: 16%) and Baghdad+ (Post Impact: 8%) both shared scenic videos of the Tigris River as seen from the recently opened Heart of the World Hotel. Adding to this theme of riverside development, the page Iraq Reconstruction (Post Impact: 4%) announced the start of construction on the 140-meter-high Nuwas Hotel Tower, intended to be a prominent tourist destination. Additionally, Iraq Projects (Post Impact: 3%) shared a design for a new overpass in Sadr City, part of the Baghdad Municipality’s infrastructure plans.

10. Multiple Fires Reported in Najaf, Baiji, and Baghdad

A number of pages reported on separate fire incidents occurring in different parts of Iraq. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 18%) reported on continuous fires in wheat farms and orchards in the Al-Haidariya area of Najaf, noting the difficult ongoing efforts by civil defense teams to control them. In a separate incident, Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%) cited journalist Miqdad Al-Humaidan, who claimed the fire at the fats and oils factory in the Baiji refinery was caused by a rocket attack. Meanwhile, Adhamiyah News (Post Impact: 3%) reported a fire breaking out at a factory in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad, with civil defense teams responding to the scene.