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Belgian carnival removed from UNESCO list over racism row
Manuel Rueda, Associated Press
Updated 4:37 pm CST, Friday, December 13, 2019
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A famous Belgian carnival was removed from the U.N.'s cultural heritage list on Friday following complaints that its most recent edition contained blatant displays of anti-Semitism.
The Aalst carnival was taken off UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list during a meeting in Colombia's capital city, becoming the first cultural tradition stricken from the U.N.'s global inventory of cultural practices.
The festivity was criticized by anti-discrimination groups after this year's edition included a float depicting Jews with sidecurls and oversized noses atop piles of money. A document filed by UNESCO's secretariat said the event goes against the organization's principles, including a clause stating that cultural expressions included in the list should foster respect among communities.
. . .
Belgium’s government requested that the carnival to be taken off the UNESCO list following several complaints by groups that the event was permissive of displays of anti-Semitism.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Belgian-carnival-removed-from-UNESCO-list-over-14904581.php
