Social networks in the Arab world are an arena for political wrestling, religious fanaticism and propaganda of the various forces operating in it, but it can also provide a glimpse into the world of those who are fighting for the preservation of normalcy and the pursuit of a better quality of life.
An instructive example of such a network phenomenon is food blogger Muhammad Kazem Mahzumi.
Mahzumi maintains a Facebook, tic-tac-toe and Instagram account where he introduces the world to the abundance of restaurants, eateries and food towers that the two rivers have to offer and he has gone from an anonymous blogger to a network phenomenon of Mao Thousands of followers in an astonishingly short time. Al Mahzumi produces videos in which he is seen visiting various restaurants, tasting classic dishes from Iraqi cuisine alongside imported fast food that is becoming popular in the Arab country and touring the unique landscapes of Iraq.
Mahzumi is seen in his videos tasting American-style pizza and fried chicken alongside pacha, a dish of stuffed stomach or a blush, a mountain fish on the
fire that is one of the flagship dishes of Iraqi cuisine. Mahzumi repeatedly returns to familiar and comforting Iraqi dishes such as kozi, meat and rice dishes but also takes care to update his viewers in new restaurants that open new for mornings in the capital Baghdad and new trends in the food industry.
A member of the Shiite majority group, Mahzumi often uploads videos from Shiite holy cities where he tastes local cuisine and talks with local merchants, pilgrims from around the Shiite world and stalls in markets.
During the Shiite Ashur holiday he produced a video of the Shiites' culinary world, their favorite foods during the holiday and the many volunteers who come to the holy city of Najaf to cook for the celebrants.
But Mahzumi is not content to show his compatriots and the rest of the Arabic-speaking world the cuisine of his community only and he often hangs out in strongholds of other ethnic groups like the Sunnis in Mosul, where he published a long chapter on the city's recovering fish market, which was completely destroyed during the war against ISIS.
Mahzumi belongs to a young generation of Shiites who are not ashamed to show liberal leanings and proudly display the diversity of Iraq.
During a visit to the city of Suleimaniya in the Kurdish region of Iraq, Mahzumi is photographed next to the Kurdish flag and greets the spectators with a greeting "Welcome to Iraqi Kurdistan".
Mahzumi not only presents a sane, fascinating and tasty Iraq but is also not afraid to take a political stance on his Facebook page.
During October, following the assassination attempt of the pro-Iranian militias in the country by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Khazmi, Mahzumi released a video in which he expressed anger over the assassination attempt.
Alongside a picture of his children playing in luxury in Baghdad, the blogger wrote: "There is nothing we want to provide our child with more than personal security.
Do you want a civil war?
Congratulations to those who protect the well-being of Iraq. "
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