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DONATE TODAY >Shocking ad for Auschwitz death camp tours shunned by victims' families and Jewish leaders
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A satirical advertisement for infamous death camp Auschwitz has created controversy in the Czech Republic.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
8/16/2016 (9 years ago)
Published in Europe
Keywords: Ad, bus, Auschwitz, death camp, victims, Jewish leaders
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to Jerusalem Online, the ad features the death camp as an attractive vacation stop.
There is a large image of the Star of David and an entrance sign reading, "Work sets you free."
Holocaust victims are featured in a black-and-white image and two messages read, "Come to Auschwitz - A journey through emotions" and "Our guides can speak Czech!"
Erika Bezdickova, who lost her entire family at the camp when she was only 13-years-old, was shocked at the sight of the ad.
She explained: "I was absolutely appalled when I spotted the bus offering the tours to Auschwitz...I think that only a person with no moral decency could make a business out of the Auschwitz catastrophe."
She explained the camp was being advertised not "as an event for the people who are interested in the history but as entertainment."
Prague Jewish Museum Director Leo Pavlat agreed, stating: "It advertises a trip to the former death camp as Auschwitz-style adventure tourism...We have sent a letter to them. Perhaps they did not realize the context but the images have to be removed as soon as possible."
The bus' owner, Svatopluk Strava from Auto Xaver, claimed he couldn't afford to paint the bus after removing the advertisement.
"I use the bus and I have to somehow earn money. To remove the stickers would destroy the paint finish."
According to Arutz Sheva, the price to remove the ad would be over ÂŁ1,670, which Strava cannot afford.
Meanwhile, he continues to use the bus and the number of offended citizens rises.
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