Hitler ad pulled from Turkish mall following complaints

JTA REPORT

The ad at the Sapphire Mall in Istanbul was promoting a wax museum. It featured a large color portrait of the late Nazi leader standing behind a podium.

The text read, “If you could meet anyone, who would it be?” Other choices included Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Napolean Bonaparte, Suleiman I, Elvis Presley, Leonardo da Vinci and Michael Jackson. Hitler was the only figure whose picture was displayed.

“This commercial was pulled after Jewish leaders complained about it,” Rifat Bali, a Turkish historian who has written several books about Turkish Jewry, told JTA. He added that the ad “did not appear to glorify Hitler in any way,” though such cases have been observed in the past in Turkey.