A Jewish human rights group has condemned a Thai school for holding a Nazi-themed parade.

The Sacred Heart Preparatory School in the northern city of Chiang Mai recently held a Nazi-themed rally; Thailand's second such event in four years. The Sacred Heart parade featured students making Nazi salutes, holding flags with the swastika logo on and people wearing SS or Adolf Hitler costumes.

The Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Centre said the Thai authorities should acknowledge how outrageous the event was, not least because it was clear it was organised with the knowledge and cooperation of the school administration.

"There can be no justification for such an outrage to emanate from place of learning," said associate dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper. He noted that had the Nazis prevailed in their mission they would have "eventually targeted all races [they] deemed 'inferior', including Asians".

He said that "those ultimately responsible for a school calling itself Christian" should take immediate action against all those responsible "for promoting and facilitating this disgraceful display".

In 2007 more than 200 students at a Bangkok school held a similar Nazi-themed parade.