UNESCO veroordeelt racistische en antisemitische taferelen op Carnaval Aalst

UNESCO condemns the racist and anti-Semitic representations at the Carnival in Aalst, Belgium, on 3 March.

Paris, 6 March – We call on the Belgian authorities to react to the recent transgressions that occurred at the Aalst Carnival, an element inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.

“The satirical spirit of the Aalst Carnival and freedom of expression cannot serve as a screen for such manifestations of hatred,” said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Culture.

“These indecent caricatures go against the values of respect and dignity embodied by UNESCO and are counter to the principles that underpin the intangible heritage of humanity, “he added.