Taiwan school principal resigns over student Nazi cosplay event

HSINCHU CITY, Taiwan, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A high school principal in Taiwan announced his resignation after students dressed up as Nazis and held a mock rally, which generated outrage.

Hsinchu Kuang-Fu High School President Cheng Hsiao-ming apologized for the incident, which he characterized as cosplay, through a statement. Cosplay is the act of dressing up as characters, usually from a book, television show or movie.

"To take full responsibility for the matter, I hereby announce my resignation from the post as president," Cheng said Sunday, adding that he will tell Taiwan's Ministry of Education who was disciplined over the event.

Cheng said the school in Taiwan's Hsinchu City has pledged to raise Holocaust awareness by screening films such as Schindler's List and Life Is Beautiful. The school will also invite Israeli speakers for events.

Cheng said a teacher recommended Arabic culture as a theme for the holiday event, but students voted in favor of a Nazi parade twice. The Taipei Times reported the students were advised the theme would be controversial but some students said they were unaware of Adolf Hitler's atrocities, while others said they chose the Nazi theme because it was easy to convert their uniforms into Nazi costumes.

The Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei said the event was "deplorable and shocking."

"Schools should educate for tolerance and understanding among people, and we are deeply disappointed that this took place in Taiwan," the Israeli agency said in a statement. "We strongly condemn this tasteless occurrence and call on the Taiwanese authorities, in all levels, to initiate educational programs which would introduce the meaning of the Holocaust and teach its history and universal meaning."