Hungarian official says pigs’ heads would scare migrants

BUDAPEST, Hungary – A Hungarian member of the European Parliament stirred controversy Monday by suggesting that displaying pig heads on a border fence would be an efficient way to scare Muslim migrants from entering the EU-member country.

Gyorgy Schopflin, a member of ruling Hungarian Fidesz party, made that suggestion in response to criticism of local people who have put carved root vegetable, human-face-like masks along the border, believing they would repel migrants.

He said: “Human images are haram (religiously prohibited.) But agree, pig’s head would deter more effectively.”

Muslims are barred from eating pork because pigs are considered unclean.

Over the weekend, Human Rights Watch director Andrew Stroehlein had written: “Refugees are fleeing war & torture, Hungary. Your root vegetable heads will not deter them.”

In a follow-up tweet, Stroehlein said: “Pig heads an ugly idea. Worse is reality of Hungary border abuses with violence against kids.”

In comments to Hungarian website mandiner.hu, Schopflin said Monday that the issue was a storm in a teacup.

“I did not humiliate anyone,” he said. “When I noted in reaction to a raised question that the pig heads would actually be more effective than masks carved from sugar beets, it was a small thought experiment, nothing else.”

The vegetable heads along the border with Serbia have been first reported by Hungarian media last week. There has reportedly been no effort by Hungarian police to remove them.

Human Rights Watch said in a report last month that migrants and refugees at Hungary’s border with Serbia were being summarily forced back, in some cases violently. Refugees, including many children, had been beaten with batons, attacked by guard dogs and sprayed by tear gas.

Hungarian officials say their attempts to stop the migrant wave, which reached over 1 million people last year, is intended to defend Europe from mostly Muslims fleeing the war-torn Middle Eastern states.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.