Germany bans children's WWII refugee costumes as it may offend migrants
CHILDREN’S Second World War refugee costumes have been pulled off the shelves in Germany - in case they OFFEND migrants.
The Second World War costumes have been pulled off the shelves
The costumes sold on the Amazon website were branded “inhuman and distasteful” and even racist by disgusted commentators in light of Europe's escalating migrant crisis.
The bizarre decision comes as Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under pressure for her open-door refugee policy.
Nearly 1.1 million refugees fleeing war and persecution in the Middle East have come to Germany leaving the supremo facing increasing calls for stricter immigration rules.
Critics took to the website to express their shock at the costume choice initally sold just in time for Germany and Switzerland's carnival season.
The children's costumes were pulled over fears they could be offensive to migrants
The costumes are still available to buy in the UK
The suffering of refugees, no matter of what origin, is not a carnival theme
One wrote: "Are you not ashamed?"
While another said: “Tasteless, the suffering of refugees, no matter of what origin, is not a carnival theme."
But some were quick to point out the children's costumes were nothing to do with the current wave of refugees and intended to represent a Second World War refugee.
Although the costumes have now been removed from other amazon stores including Italy, they are still available to buy in the UK.
Europe is currently in the midst of the worst migrant crisis since the Second World War
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Oliviero Forti, director of the immigration division of Caritas, one of Italy's largest Catholic charities, denounced sales of the costumes as "shameless" because refugee children were dying every day attempting to cross into Europe.
He called on the UK retailer "Fancy Me" to donate costume sale proceeds toward life vests or other aid items for refugee children.