In an effort to ward off immigrants, Hungary had placed eerie 'scarecrow-like' masks - fashioned from vegetables - along its border fence. Responding to remarks that "your root vegetable heads will not deter them," Hungarian politician (and MEP) Gyorgy Schopflin, snapped back that he agreed, adding that "pig’s heads would deter more effectively." His comments were not well met...

As The Sun reports, Hungarian politician Gyorgy Schopflin, of the nation's ruling Fidesz party, made the incendiary comments in response to criticism of his country’s attitude towards refugees by a prominent human rights campaigner...

Human Rights Watch director Andrew Stroehlein slammed Hungary’s use of eerie masks fashioned from vegetables to ward off migrants at the border in a tweet on Friday. Hungarian officials have placed the masks across the nation’s vast border fence in an attempt to impede the movement of refugees seeking passage to countries in Western Europe.

While it appeared to work for a time, many refugees still attempt the dangerous journey...

Mr Stroehlein tweeted:

“Refugees are fleeing war & torture, Hungary. “Your root vegetable heads will not deter them.”

Indignant, Mr Schopflin replied:

“Might do so. “Human images are haram. “But agree, pig’s head would deter more effectively.”

Mr Schopflin’s words have attracted criticism from Mr Stroehlein among others, who accuse the MEP of “spouting xenophobic filth”. Speaking directly to the MEP, Mr Stroehlein said:

“Your words are disgusting. “I would expect that from anonymous neo-Nazi trolls but you’re an MEP. “Act like one.” “You are an embarrassment to Hungary, to Europe & to humanity.”

Meanwhile, Mr Schopflin said criticisms of him were “beginning to resemble hate speech”, refusing to apologize, saying the remark was "hypothetical" and "a thought experiment".

In October, Hungary will hold a referendum on whether it agrees on the EU's mandatory refugee resettlement policy.

'United' States of Europe, indeed.