Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Global Jewish leaders are condemning Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who compared his effort to combat drug use to the Holocaust.

“Hitler massacred three million Jews… there’re three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them,” Duterte said, a remark which World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder called “profoundly inhumane.”

“It demonstrates an appalling disrespect for human life that is truly heart breaking for the democratically elected leader of a great country,” he said.

The comment was “inappropriate and deeply offensive,” said the Anti-Defamation League in a statement.

Duterte’s crackdown on drug dealers and users, which he launched since taking office in June, has resulted in the death of more than 3,000. The Philippine leader made the controversial comment during a speech in Davao.

“At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have…” Duterte said as he pointed at himself, the BBC reported.