An MEP has appeared to suggest that pigs' heads on Hungary's border fence could be used to deter refugees.

Gyorgy Schopflin, who sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, mentioned the idea on Twitter.

He was responding to criticism of some people who have put masks made from root vegetables on the border fences - apparently to try to ward off migrants.

Refugees are fleeing war & torture, Hungary. Your root vegetable heads will not deter them. https://t.co/QJfk1lJCnw pic.twitter.com/YpCR3nkgyb — Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) August 19, 2016

Human Rights Watch director Andrew Stroehlein tweeted on Friday: "Refugees are fleeing war & torture, Hungary. Your root vegetable heads will not deter them."

Mr Schopflin tweeted in response: "Might do so. Human images are haram. But agree, pig's head would deter more effectively."


Mr Stroehlein accused the MEP of spouting "xenophobic filth".

"Your words are disgusting. I expect that from anonymous neo-Nazi trolls. But you're an MEP. Act like one," he told Mr Schopflin.

Image: Syrian migrants entering Hungary at the border with Serbia in August 2015

"Your sick call for pig heads to try to scare desperate people fleeing wars? That's how an MEP should talk?"

Iyad el-Baghdadi, an author and activist, sent a tweet to Mr Stroehlein, saying: "What makes these idiots think that pork is some sorta Muslim kryptonite or has some magical anti-Muslim powers?"

An under fire Mr Schopflin later appeared to backtrack, tweeting: "Mine was a hypothetical, a thought experiment. Nothing to apologise for."

Hungary, as well as Macedonia and Croatia, has erected fences topped with razor wire to try to stop refugees crossing into the country.

Earlier this year it also threatened to veto European and Turkish leaders' landmark "one in, one out" deal aimed at halting illegal immigration to Europe.

