Belgian carnival may lose UNESCO status over 'anti-Semitic' float

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The United Nations' cultural agency said Friday it would consider removing a popular Belgian carnival from its world heritage list for featuring a float it deemed "racist and anti-Semitic."

Earlier this month the popular carnival in Aalst near Brussels, known for its irreverent humor, had a float depicting caricatured puppets of orthodox Jews with rats sitting on money bags.

UNESCO had already condemned the float, saying "the satirical spirit of the Aalst Carnival and freedom of expression cannot serve as a screen for such manifestations of hatred."

The European Commission also denounced the float.

A file photo shows a group of performers marching during a carnival in the streets of Aalst, Belgium, March 2, 2014. /VCG Photo

But the Dutch-speaking town's mayor, Christoph D'Haese, defended the float and challenged what he called attempts at censorship by "outsiders."

A UNESCO source told AFP that a decision to pull the Aalst carnival from its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity lists would be "unprecedented."

The carnival was named to the list at Belgium's request in 2010.

"UNESCO had to be vigilant and uncompromising regarding such occurrences," she said, arguing that they flout the "ethical principles" exemplified by the heritage lists.

(Top Photo: Giant figures depicting Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel (L) and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders during the 87th carnival parade of Aalst February 15, 2015. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP