‘Terrorist man’ costume being marketed to kids in Melbourne discount store

A ‘TERRORIST man’ costume being marketed to kids at a Clarinda discount store has caused outrage with one shopper saying they were “horrified” by the discovery.

Terrorist Man costume for sale in Clarinda. Picture: Supplied

A ‘TERRORIST man’ costume being marketed to kids at a south east Melbourne discount store has caused outrage and upset.

The outfit was spotted in the children’s costume section, beside the kids party supplies, at JC Plaza in Clarinda last week.

The $34.99 set comes with a keffiyeh style hat, camouflage jacket, white shirt and pants.

It does not include the long beard and imitation AK47 gun it is styled with on the packet.

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The costume includes keffiyeh style hat, camouflage jacket, white shirt and pants. Picture: Supplied

“I was shocked and terrified and could not believe my eyes,” a shopper who wished to remain anonymous said.

“I wanted to shout out, ‘this is so wrong, this is shameful’, and it took me a few minutes to calm down and to take a photo.

“I left the shop quickly, nearly in tears, and am still horrified by what I saw.”

A State Government spokesman said it was unacceptable but that they were unable to stop them being sold.

“These sorts of costumes are completely unacceptable for anyone — particularly children,” the spokesman said.

“Any retailers stocking them should get rid of them immediately.”

Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich said the costume went past bad taste and “crosses so many red lines.”

“There is nothing funny or cool about dressing up as a murderer responsible for horrific bloodshed and suffering that have affected so many lives,” he said.

“This insensitive costume, immorally aimed at children, also reinforces the bigoted stereotypes of all Muslims as terrorists, and will contribute to the harmful scapegoating and stigmatising of the Muslim community in Australia which is simply unacceptable.”

JC Plaza store owner Jin Cai denied ordering the costumes and said they must be left over from her predecessor who she bought the store from in 2012.

She said she didn’t think about it but would never stock them again.

“I didn’t think about that one but I will stop,” she said.

“I’m not order it again and no stock anymore.

“I’m sorry about this.”

The Herald Sun first reported on the costumes in 2015 when they were spotted in a Broadmeadows discount store.

The sets were removed from shelves after the story ran but reappeared in Clarinda last week.

@tamsinroses