Iraqi Interior Ministry tracks 97 social media reports since start of Muharram

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Interior Ministry said it has identified 97 reports circulating on social media since the start of the Islamic month of Muharram, covering security, political, service and social issues. Major General Mikdad Miri, head of the ministry's Media Relations Department, said the unit's monitoring team has been tracking content across social media and digital platforms. Facebook accounted for the largest share with 39 reports, or 40 percent, followed by X with 34 reports, or 35 percent, and Telegram with 24 reports, or 25 percent. By content type, security-related reports led at 56 percent, followed by political reports at 20 percent, service-related news at 15 percent, and social and religious news at 9 percent. In terms of target audience, citizens and visitors were the most addressed group at 44 percent, while security forces were targeted in 30 percent of the reports and state institutions and service departments in 26 percent. Miri added that 42 percent of the identified reports had a high impact, 29 percent a very high impact, and 29 percent a moderate impact, according to the ministry's written statement.