This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
On December 13, 2019, UNESCO made history by removing the Aalst Carnival from its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, marking the first time a cultural tradition has been stricken from the global inventory.
The decision was made during a meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, after complaints of anti-Semitism surrounding the carnival's infamous displays of Jewish caricatures.
UNESCO's assistant director general for culture, Ernesto Ottone, stated, 'They can continue to do the festival. We are not opposing that. What we don’t want is the brand of UNESCO on a festival that for (some) may be humor, but for us is mockery of some communities.'
The Aalst Carnival, which was included in the UNESCO list in 2010, has been criticized for its blatant displays of anti-Semitic imagery, including a float depicting Jews with sidecurls and oversized noses atop piles of money in this year's edition.
Belgium's government had requested the carnival's removal from the UNESCO list, citing its permissive attitude towards anti-Semitic displays.
Mayor Christoph D’Haese of Aalst defended the carnival, stating, 'We are on a very dangerous slippery slope when people will be able to decide what can be laughed at.'
However, European peers described the decision as necessary, with Austria's ambassador to UNESCO, Claudia Reinprecht, stating, 'We cannot allow these anti-Semitic manifestations to happen in Europe with us turning a blind eye.'
