Online retailer Redbubble criticised over Auschwitz-themed pillows and miniskirts
Redbubble says the products are "not acceptable" - and confirmed immediate action was being taken to remove them from its site.
Wednesday 8 May 2019 08:02, UK
The Auschwitz Memorial has criticised an online retailer for selling pillows, T-shirts and miniskirts depicting the former Nazi concentration camp.
Dozens of products featuring images taken at the site were listed online by Redbubble, a "global marketplace" that allows users to sell merchandise with their own prints on.
As screenshots of the controversial items circulated online, the Auschwitz Memorial tweeted the website and asked: "Do you really think that selling such products as pillows, miniskirts or tote bags with the images of Auschwitz - a place of enormous human tragedy where over 1.1 million people were murdered - is acceptable?"
"This is rather disturbing and disrespectful."
Redbubble replied a short time later, writing: "We appreciate that this has been brought to our attention. The nature of this content is not acceptable and is not in line with our community guidelines. We are taking immediate action to remove these and similar works available on these product types.
"Redbubble is the host of an online marketplace where independent users take responsibility for the images they upload. We have onsite reporting functions in place and are grateful to be made aware of these concerns."
Although the products are no longer available to buy, dozens of them are still listed on Redbubble's website.
Cushions bearing an image of the camp's entrance were among those listed, with some of the items costing up to £55.
Millions of people were killed in concentration camps built by the Nazis, and most of them were Jews. The Holocaust is one of the worst atrocities in history.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau camp remains open as a museum in Poland, and millions of people visit the site each year.
Redbubble is the latest online retailer to face criticism for advertising products in poor taste.