'Hang pig heads along border to stop Muslim refugees'

Budapest, Aug 22: Severed pigs’ heads should be hung along Hungary’s border to deter Muslim refugees and migrants from entering the country, an MEP has suggested.

Gyorgy Schopflin, a member of the right-wing government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, sparked outrage and disbelief with the suggestion.

He made it during an ill-tempered exchange on Twitter with a human rights campaigner.

Andrew Stroehlein, European media director for Human Rights Watch, posted a tweet in which he criticised Hungary for using bizarre, totemic masks made out of beetroot to scare refugees trying to cross the border from neighbouring Serbia.

The existence of the ghoulish vegetable heads was first reported last week by a Hungarian jourlist. It is not clear who made them but there has reportedly been no effort by Hungarian police or soldiers to take them down.

“Refugees are fleeing war & torture, Hungary. Your root vegetable heads will not deter them,” Stroehlein wrote in his tweet.

The MEP, a former academic who is a member of the governing Fidesz party, wrote back: “Might do so. Human images are haram. But agree, pig’s head would deter more effectively.”

He was described as “a sad old man full of hate” and his comment was branded as “disgusting”. (IANS)