Based on an analysis of 533 Facebook posts trending on October 12, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most engaging topics included expressions of national pride following a significant victory for the Iraqi national football team and the success of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service in an international competition. Political discourse was also prominent, with influential figures like Muqtada al-Sadr and Ammar al-Hakim making statements that were widely shared, alongside controversy surrounding the return of political figure Rafi al-Rifai. Simultaneously, ongoing civic issues, such as traffic problems in major cities and water shortage protests in Basra, garnered significant attention, reflecting public concern over infrastructure and basic services. The run-up to elections was also a visible theme, with various candidates and parties actively campaigning across the platform.<\/p>\n
Facebook pages widely celebrated a victory for the Iraqi national football team, the “Lions of Mesopotamia,” apparently in a World Cup qualifying match. Set Ashwaq um al-Qanouniya<\/a> (Post Impact: 29%<\/strong>) posted a celebratory image with the caption “The bread under the kebab… Congratulations Iraq.”<\/em> Similarly, former national team captain Younis Mahmoud<\/a> (Post Impact: 24%<\/strong>) shared a reel congratulating the team, using the hashtag #\u064a\u0644\u0627_\u0644\u0643\u0623\u0633_\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0627\u0644\u0645 (#Go_To_The_World_Cup). The page Iraqeen W Bas – Iraqis Only<\/a> (Post Impact: 7%<\/strong>) also shared an image with the text “You feel the picture speaks – Oh Iraq – Congratulations on the win for the Lions of Mesopotamia.”<\/em><\/p>\n Traffic problems and violations were a major topic of discussion, with pages highlighting issues and calling for action from authorities. The page Traffic Awareness<\/a> (Post Impact: 77%<\/strong>), which had one of the highest engagement posts of the day, shared a reel simply titled “Motorcycles – Karbala Governorate,” showing chaotic motorcycle traffic. In a similar vein, Baghdad Congestion<\/a> (Post Impact: 23%<\/strong>) posted a video showing traffic issues with a caption directed at officials: “Under the eyes of the gentlemen in the esteemed General Traffic Directorate.”<\/em> These posts indicate significant public frustration with the traffic situation in major Iraqi cities.<\/p>\n Statements by Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the National Wisdom Movement, regarding corruption were shared across multiple pages. Taraef al-Alam bi-Uyun Iraqiya<\/a> (Post Impact: 24%<\/strong>) and Min Baghdad<\/a> (Post Impact: 5%<\/strong>) both shared a video of al-Hakim declaring, “We confronted corruption and stood against the corrupt and we still do.”<\/em> The page Akher al-Ahdath al-Iraqiya<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>) also echoed this sentiment, sharing the same quote. The repetition of this clip across different pages suggests a coordinated effort to promote al-Hakim’s anti-corruption stance.<\/p>\n A statement by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr regarding Gaza drew significant attention. The highly influential page The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr<\/a> (Post Impact: 64%<\/strong>) reported that al-Sadr had published a post on his personal account on the “X” platform. The post was shared with the hashtag #\u0633\u0644\u0627\u0645\u0627_\u063a\u0632\u0629 (#Peace_Gaza), indicating a message of solidarity. The high impact of this single post demonstrates the significant reach and influence of al-Sadr’s social media communications among his followers in Iraq.<\/p>\n The return of controversial Sunni cleric Rafi al-Rifai to Baghdad sparked debate and criticism. Hussam alhaj<\/a> (Post Impact: 17%<\/strong>) shared a clip where National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji explains the reasons for al-Rifai’s return and why he was received at the airport. In contrast, Yahya Rasool<\/a> (Post Impact: 10%<\/strong>), a military spokesman and political candidate, strongly condemned the reception, asking, “How can Rafi al-Rifai be received like a king, when he is one of the instigators who insulted the blood of the sons of Iraq?”<\/em> He asserted that the blood of martyrs is more valuable than any political settlements. The page of Dr. Muzaffar Qasim Hussein<\/a> (Post Impact: 4%<\/strong>) also shared an archival clip of al-Rifai, contributing to the discourse around his controversial past.<\/p>\n Multiple pages celebrated the victory of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) at the International Warrior Competition. The official Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service Icts<\/a> page (Post Impact: 14%<\/strong>) posted a video from the celebration of their first-place win. A second post from the same page provided details of the official ceremony held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. Corroborating this, Support for Iraqi Security Forces<\/a> (Post Impact: 9%<\/strong>) reported that the Commander-in-Chief ordered a promotion of two ranks for the winning team members, highlighting that 38 teams from 24 countries participated in the event.<\/p>\n With elections approaching, various political figures and parties were actively campaigning on Facebook. The page of Nouri Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 14%<\/strong>), leader of the State of Law Coalition, shared a video as part of a series highlighting the economic transformations during his tenure as prime minister. Meanwhile, Mohammad Al-Halbousi<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%<\/strong>), head of the Taqaddum Party, posted about attending a campaign rally for a party candidate in Diyala province. Campaign reels were also shared by candidates like Dr. Qutaiba Ibrahim al-Jubouri<\/a> (Post Impact: 16%<\/strong>) of the National Resolve Alliance, who promised to uphold the “honor of the word.”<\/p>\n A government decision benefiting lecturers and administrators was a significant news story. The Iraq Plus Network<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%<\/strong>) and Jumahir al-I’mar wal-Tanmiya<\/a> (Post Impact: 4%<\/strong>) both reported that, following directives from Prime Minister Al-Sudani, the Ministry of Finance has approved counting the volunteer service of lecturers and administrators before their permanent appointment towards their retirement benefits. This decision addresses a long-standing demand and was framed as a key government achievement.<\/p>\n Public discontent over a water crisis in Basra manifested in protests that were covered on social media. The page Baghdad<\/a> (Post Impact: 5%<\/strong>) shared a video with the caption “Protests in Basra now because of the water crisis..”<\/em> Another post by Ammar Al-Halfi<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>) showed demonstrations in the Al-Tamimiyya area, holding Governor Asaad Al-Eidani and other officials responsible for what he described as a “massacre against the people of Basra” due to water that is not even fit for animals.<\/p>\n The television program “Al Ghasala” (The Washing Machine) and its host Qahtan Adnan were a topic of discussion, particularly regarding its content. The official page for Al Ghasala<\/a> (Post Impact: 18%<\/strong>) shared a clip mocking a female candidate for the House of Representatives for her behavior on TikTok. Another reel from the host, Al-Aalami Qahtan Adnan<\/a> (Post Impact: 11%<\/strong>), was promoted with the title “The scandal that #Qahtan_Adnan promised with the artist Dally,”<\/em> suggesting a focus on sensational and controversial content that drives engagement for the program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Based on an analysis of 533 Facebook posts trending on October 12, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most engaging topics included expressions of national pride following a significant victory for the Iraqi national football team and the success of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service in an international competition. Political discourse […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70,73,78],"tags":[82,52,81,84],"class_list":["post-7312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-facebook","category-iraq","category-daily","tag-daily-reports","tag-iraq-daily-social-media-trends","tag-iraq-public-opinion","tag-trending-facebook"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t2. Highlighting Traffic Violations and Issues<\/h2>\n
3. Ammar al-Hakim’s Anti-Corruption Statements<\/h2>\n
4. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Statement on Gaza<\/h2>\n
5. Controversy Over the Return of Rafi al-Rifai<\/h2>\n
6. Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service Wins International Warrior Competition<\/h2>\n
7. Ongoing Election Campaigning by Political Figures<\/h2>\n
8. Ministry of Finance Approves Counting Lecturers’ Pre-Tenure Service<\/h2>\n
9. Protests in Basra Over Water Shortages<\/h2>\n
10. Criticism of TV Program “Al Ghasala”<\/h2>\n