An Indian publisher is facing harsh criticism for including Adolf Hitler in a children's book titled Great Leaders
The book, published by Pegasus Books, is intended to teach children about current and past national leaders who "dedicated their lives to the betterment of their countries and the people living in them – who have not just governed nations during peace times, but also during times of crisis."
The leaders featured include former South African President Nelson Mandela and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Also included in the book are current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, controversial Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and former U.S. President Barack Obama.
According to a statement of condemnation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the inclusion of Hitler would "bring tears of joy to the Nazis and their racist neo-Nazi heirs."
"Adolf Hitler was a visionary – his vision almost destroyed our planet; started WWII – which left tens of millions dead and mass murdered 6 million Jews during the Nazi Holocaust," wrote Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associated Dean of the Wiesenthal Center.
Cooper said that equating Hitler with "truly great political and humanitarian leaders" was an "abomination."
The Wiesenthal Center is demanding that Pegasus Books remove Great Leaders from circulation and from its online store.
