Baghdad: Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement in Iraq, has issued a strong condemnation of recent statements made by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Al-Sadr has called for an apology from the German official, criticizing her justification of civilian casualties in the conflict.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, in a letter delivered to the German embassy in Iraq by a delegation representing al-Sadr, the Iraqi leader expressed his vehement disapproval of Baerbock’s remarks. The letter stated, “We strongly denounce and condemn the fanatical German position expressed by its Foreign Minister, which justifies or permits the usurping Zionist entity to bomb civilians under any pretext.” Al-Sadr emphasized that such statements could be seen as an incitement to terrorism.

Al-Sadr further elaborated that the statements made by Baerbock do not align with what should be the official stance of Germany. He urged the Foreign Minister to retract her s
tatements and apologize for her comments that supported “the killing of civilians and mass killings” in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria.

In her speech to the German parliament on the first anniversary of the war on Gaza, Baerbock had articulated a robust defense policy, stating, “The right to self-defense does not mean attacking terrorists, but rather destroying them.” This statement has sparked significant controversy and backlash, highlighting the complex international dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.