Austrian Turks accuse Lego of racism in Star Wars set

ISTANBUL

"Jabba's Palace" based on the series of Star Wars films. HANDOUT PHOTO

Austria's Turkish community has accused Lego of racism, after a recent set featuring the palace of Star Wars' evil character Jabba the Hutt was based on Istanbul's Hagia Sophia museum, U.K. daily The Telegraph has reported.

The Turkish Cultural Community of Austria released a statement claiming that Lego labels Asians and Orientals as "deceitful and criminal personalities," and called on the company to apologize for affronting religious and cultural feelings.

The statement also suggests that Jabba's home in the set resembles the Hagia Sophia with it's dome and watchtower.

Jabba the Hutt, a large, slug-like alien, is a fictional character appearing in George Lucas's Star Wars films as a crime boss.

Hagia Sophia, is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul.