The right-wing politician said it would 'deter'

Gyorgy Schopflin, 76, suggested on Twitter that pigs' heads should be placed on the border to prevent refugees from entering

A Hungarian politician has sparked outrage for suggesting placing pigs' heads on fences at the border will deter refugees from entering the country.

Gyorgy Schopflin, 76 - part of the country's right wing party - made the comment when responding to criticism about their attitude towards refugees.

The MEP posted on Twitter that by placing the head of a pig on fences at the border it would 'deter' people try to enter 'more effectively'.

Schopflin, of the Fidesz Party, was replying to Human Rights Watch director Andrew Stroehlein.

The argument on Twitter came after Hungarian officials placed masks made from vegetables on their border fences in a bid to prevent refugees trying to enter the country.

Mr Stroehlein tweeted: 'Refugees are fleeing war & torture, Hungary.

'Your root vegetable heads will not deter them.'

Mr Schopflin quickly replied: 'Might do so. Human images are haram.

'But agree, pig's head would deter more effectively.'

But the politician's response has sparked outrage and Mr Stroehlein has described him as an 'embarrassment to humanity'.

He also said that Schopflin's suggestion was 'disgusting' and accused him of spouting 'xenophobic filth'.

The MEP posted on his comments on Twitter. Migrants were photographed in front of barrier at the border with Hungary and Serbia in 2015

A Hungarian soldier installs a wire fence at the border between Hungary and Serbia in 2015

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.'

He continued: 'You are an embarrassment to Hungary, to Europe & to humanity.'

The Hungarian politician wrote on Twitter that a way to deter refugees from entering the country would be to place pigs' heads on the border

Andrew Stroehlein replied and said that the politician's words were 'disgusting'

The Human Rights Watch director added that Mr Schopflin was an 'embarrassment to humanity'

Of 177,135 asylum applicants to Hungary in 2015, just 146 were approved, according to government statistics.

In March 2015, the Hungarian government declared a state of emergency in the country due to Europe's refugee crisis.