Criticism and Ridicule for the Finger Statue in Baghdad... What's the Story?

Although the statue was installed some time ago, many Iraqis have been sharing on social media platforms (X and Instagram) images of what they describe as a bizarre monument featuring a thumb in front of the "Heart of the World" hotel in the Jadriya area of Baghdad. While some criticized the installation of a thumb statue that lacks any artistic or cultural significance, others launched a campaign of ridicule, questioning the reasoning behind placing such a statue. The Iraqi platform "Yalla" on Instagram reported that the monument "represents the fingerprint of the investor and businessman Abdullah Al-Jubouri." It also indicated that Al-Jubouri wanted to show that he "left a mark in Iraq through his investment in this large hotel." Notably, this hotel, which opened last year, is located on the Jadriya Bridge overlooking the Tigris River. It includes a shopping center, luxurious hotel apartments, as well as various upscale restaurants and swimming pools.