Spanish lawmaker Manuela Bergerot sharply condemned the use of women’s rights to justify the war in Iran, saying in a public speech, “You cannot defend women’s rights by celebrating the death of 160 girls.”

Her remarks came amid international outrage after an airstrike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, killed around 160 children — one of the deadliest civilian attacks since the conflict began.

Bergerot’s comment was part of a broader debate during International Women’s Day protests in Spain and across Europe, where many demonstrators linked peace, women’s rights, and opposition to military action in the Middle East.

Her stance drew strong reactions inside Spain and online, with supporters applauding the emphasis on human life and critics arguing that concern for women’s rights should not preclude support for opposition to Iran’s government.