Austria’s carnival authority has banned jokes targeting asylum seekers, foreigners, minorities and “defenceless people” in the traditional celebrations.

Festivities in the run-up to Lent include parades, costume balls, music and performances across the country, where participants dress up and wear intricate wooden masks.

Comedy is a key part of the period, known as Fasching or Karneval, but the Austrian Carnival Guild (Bund Österreichischer Faschingsgilden) has drawn up a new ethics code on acceptable jokes.

'Fasching' in Austria and Germany sees participants wear costumes and wooden masks for parades and performances (Getty Images)

“Hurtful attacks on defenceless people, majorities sneering at minorities, cutting mockery and malice, irony and sarcasm - even if they get roars of laughter from the audience - are inappropriate,” the code reads.

“Laughing at others' expense always leaves a bitter aftertaste.”

The guild said Fasching “is open to social and societal changes over time” and that a current challenge is to ensure the “integration of migrants into traditional events” to secure their future.

In a section on “respecting values and limits”, its code says that although fun is the top priority, “human dignity is inviolable” and people’s feelings should not be hurt.

Costumed participants tossing a so called 'Jackel' perform in the annual carnival parade on February 12, 2015 in Mittenwald, Germany. (Getty Images)

“This is especially the case for dealing in religious matters,” it says, adding that all religions should be treated with respect.

The new guidelines are in line with those applied to the carnival period in Germany and Switzerland, The Local reported.

Adi Mittendorfer, the Austrian Carnival Guild’s president, told the website: “People should be aware of the effect of such jokes. Anything which drags human dignity or faith in the dirt is not allowed.”

His deputy, Alfred Kamleitner, said sexist jokes were also frowned upon, adding: “I don’t think it's funny to see scantily clad nuns running around on stage.”

Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images

Mocking “the follies of everyday life” and prominent politicians and celebrities is, however, perfectly acceptable.

It comes after German carnival organisers in Cologne and Bonn printed leaflets in Arabic and Farsi instructing refugees not to kiss people without consent or urinate in public.

Austria’s carnival tradition mirrors similar celebrations across historically Catholic parts of Germany and Europe dating back to the 13th Century.

It officially starts on Epiphany (6 January) and celebrations continue until Shrove Tuesday, which will fall on 9 February this year.

