Based on Miqrab AI’s analysis of 445 X \/ Twitter posts trending in Iraq on December 11, 2025, the social media landscape was dominated by political statements from influential leaders, discussions on Iraq’s domestic governance, and reactions to major regional developments, particularly in Syria. Key narratives included commemorative messages on the anniversary of the victory over ISIS from figures like Muqtada al-Sadr and Qais Khazali, which also carried political warnings about foreign influence and internal division. A significant domestic issue involved the Supreme Judicial Council retracting a controversial memo that was seen as a threat to free speech, sparking widespread debate. Concurrently, conversations about the formation of the next government were prominent, with speculation about Nouri al-Maliki’s potential return and the role of the United States. Other trending topics included the resurfacing of cleric Hussein al-Sadr’s historical political affiliations, the US Congress’s move to repeal sanctions on Syria, and religious commemorations for the birth of Fatima al-Zahra.<\/p>\n
In a handwritten statement with the highest engagement, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr<\/a> (Post Impact: 100%)<\/strong> commemorated the anniversary of the victory over ISIS. The message, posted as an image, thanks God, the Iraqi people, the security forces, and the martyrs for their sacrifices. Al-Sadr emphasized that this victory should not be taken for granted, warning against political and sectarian divisions that could allow terrorism to return. He called for national unity and the protection of Iraq’s sovereignty, urging Iraqis to remain vigilant against internal and external threats that seek to destabilize the country. The post serves as both a remembrance of the past conflict and a political directive to his followers regarding the nation’s future.<\/p>\n Qais Khazali<\/a> (Post Impact: 37%)<\/strong>, the Secretary-General of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, issued a formal statement celebrating the anniversary of the “great victory” over ISIS. Khazali attributed the success to the religious fatwa of the supreme authority, the sacrifices of the Iraqi armed forces and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and particularly the “leaders of victory,” referring to Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The statement also carried a strong political message, condemning what he described as ongoing American attempts to undermine Iraq’s victory and sovereignty, and reiterated the demand for the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country.<\/p>\n A directive from an official within the Supreme Judicial Council, which proposed legal action against those who criticize or call for the overthrow of the political system, was quickly retracted following public outcry. Faig Alsheakh<\/a> (Post Impact: 14%)<\/strong> announced that the director of the council president’s office, Karar Abdul Amir, was “reprimanded” for issuing the letter. The reversal was framed as a protection of free speech, a view shared by several commentators including Ali Farhan<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%)<\/strong> and Iyad al-Anbar<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%)<\/strong>, who stated that without the council’s intervention, prisons would be filled with critics of the ruling establishment. Rusly Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%)<\/strong> also noted this was the second time in a week that a controversial official position was publicly reversed.<\/p>\n Discussions surrounding the formation of Iraq’s next government and the potential return of Nouri al-Maliki were prominent, with a focus on alleged American involvement. Nazar Haidar<\/a> (Post Impact: 9%)<\/strong> claimed that Washington is studying Maliki’s ability to fulfill a list of promises\u2014including joining the Abraham Accords and ending Iranian influence\u2014in exchange for US support for his premiership. Conversely, David Yassin<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%)<\/strong> asserted that within decision-making circles, Maliki is considered a “personality of expired validity”<\/em> and that the US is pursuing a path independent of the current political establishment. Adding to this, multiple accounts like Shaho Quradaghi<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%)<\/strong> shared a statement from Trump’s envoy, Mark Savaya, warning that Iraqi leaders’ decisions will determine whether the country moves toward sovereignty or “slips back into disintegration and weakness.”<\/p>\n Cleric Hussein al-Sadr became a subject of debate after a video showed him praising former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. In response, several accounts recirculated historical footage and images of him from 2002. Othman Al-Mukhtar<\/a> (Post Impact: 12%)<\/strong> and Rusly Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 8%)<\/strong> shared a video from a 2002 referendum event showing Hussein al-Sadr applauding a speech by Saddam Hussein. Al-Mukhtar argued that if the de-Ba’athification law were applied without sectarian bias, half of the religious seminaries in Najaf and Karbala would be affected. The posts contrasted his past support for the former regime with his current political alignments, sparking discussion about the shifting loyalties of political figures in Iraq.<\/p>\n Several Iraqi accounts reported on a significant development in US policy toward Syria, as the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Caesar Act, a set of crippling economic sanctions. Rusly Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 7%)<\/strong> and Steven Nabil<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%)<\/strong> both shared the news, congratulating the Syrian people. Al-Maliki highlighted the role of Congressman Joe Wilson, who introduced the bill, noting that Wilson was previously dismissed by some commentators as insignificant but was responsible for lifting sanctions that were as harsh as those on Iraq in the 1990s. The move is now awaiting a vote in the Senate and the president’s signature.<\/p>\n A narrative reframing the Syrian conflict as a war fought predominantly by foreign militants gained traction. Najah Mohammed Ali<\/a> (Post Impact: 11%)<\/strong> shared detailed statistics allegedly sourced from a UN document, listing the nationalities and numbers of foreign fighters who battled against the Syrian government. The figures showed tens of thousands of fighters from countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Chechnya, and Tunisia, suggesting the “revolution” was not a domestic uprising. This perspective was echoed by Wasan Al-Shaykhli<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%)<\/strong>, who stated that the same “external plan” failed in Iraq but succeeded in Syria, crediting the existence of the religious authority (Marja’iyya) and the PMF for Iraq’s different outcome.<\/p>\n Sufian Samarrai<\/a> (Post Impact: 33%)<\/strong> posted a sharp criticism of Qatar, accusing the nation of hypocrisy. The post claims that despite its immense wealth, empty palaces, and financial support for “political and jihadist Islam,” Qatar refuses to temporarily host two million Gazans who are living in tents without shelter. Samarrai describes Doha as having empty streets and a population under one million, yet being unwilling to provide a safe haven for Palestinians in need, contrasting its spending on “chaos and sabotage” with its inaction on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.<\/p>\n Several political and religious figures took to social media to commemorate the birth of Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. Ammar Al-Hakim<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%)<\/strong>, leader of the National Wisdom Movement, posted a message describing her birth as an “emanation of light in the house of prophethood.”<\/em> Similarly, Amir Mousawi<\/a> (Post Impact: 5%)<\/strong> celebrated the occasion, noting that Imam Khomeini designated the day as Mother’s Day, and offered prayers for all mothers. Dr. Hussein Al-Safi<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%)<\/strong> also highlighted the significance of the day, which is celebrated across the Islamic world as Mother’s Day.<\/p>\n2. Qais Khazali Commemorates Victory Over ISIS<\/h2>\n
3. Judicial Council Reverses Memo on Criticizing Political System<\/h2>\n
4. US Influence and Nouri al-Maliki’s Political Future Debated<\/h2>\n
5. Hussein al-Sadr’s Past with Saddam Hussein Resurfaces<\/h2>\n
6. US Congress Moves to Repeal Sanctions on Syria<\/h2>\n
7. Foreign Fighters in the Syrian War<\/h2>\n
8. Qatar Criticized Over Stance on Gazan Refugees<\/h2>\n
9. Religious Commemoration of Fatima al-Zahra’s Birth<\/h2>\n
10. UNESCO Recognizes Iraqi Cultural Heritage Items<\/h2>\n