‘Gifts should not reflect a culture of violence’: Presidency defends symbolic gesture after criticism goes viral

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Presidency on Saturday responded to a viral video showing a man criticizing a gift box he received from President Abdul Latif Rashid, defending the symbolic value of the locally produced items and rejecting the idea that gifts should reflect power or violence.

In the video, which has been widely circulated on social media, the man expresses disappointment after receiving pomegranate molasses and olive oil from the president, stating he had expected “something bigger,” such as a pistol. He claimed the gift was given during a visit to the president’s office.

In a statement, the Presidency’s media office said the items were chosen to promote Iraq’s domestic agricultural sector and were sourced from Halabja.

“The selection of such gifts reflects the president’s commitment to supporting local products and promoting a message of self-reliance,” the statement said, adding that the gesture aligns with a broader vision of symbolic, non-extravagant gifts.

The office emphasized that gifts should not convey associations with violence. “Gifts should not reflect a culture of violence. They are meant to encourage, not to show off,” the statement read.

It added that the choice to offer natural and locally produced items stands in contrast to objects “that could be interpreted as symbols of violence or power, such as pistols or similar objects.”