German Minister’s Visit to Syria Sparks Controversy in German Press
The German newspaper Bild has come under fire for its biased reporting on Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s recent visit to Damascus. The minister was met with a tense reception, with Islamist Abu Muhammad al-Dschaulani initially refusing to shake her hand and the Islamist group HTS later altering a photo of her on Telegram.
In a Sunday evening article, Bild posed the question, “How much do Islamists fear our Federal Foreign Minister?” The correct answer, however, would be “not at all.” The article was later clarified to suggest that the Islamists are afraid of being sexually attracted to the minister.
Baerbock had already had the opportunity to explain the hand-shaking incident, stating that she was not surprised by the rejection and that her position on women’s rights was evident during the meeting. Bild even went so far as to speculate that al-Dschaulani may have extended his hand for a handshake at the end of the meeting.
The visit, which saw Baerbock arrive in Damascus alongside her French counterpart, coincided with the announcement that the new Syrian Justice Minister had overseen the execution of women in the past.