The Belgian town of Aalst is revoking itself from the UN cultural heritage list over accusations of anti-Semitism, ABC News reported on Sunday.
The March carnival float in Aalst depicting hook-nosed Orthodox Jews sitting on bags with money sparked outrage among the Jewish community, as well as within UNESCO and the European Union.
BELGIUM 🇧🇪
— Jenny Aharon 🇪🇺 (@jenny_aharon) September 18, 2019
Mayor of Aalst Christoph D’Haese
went to @UNESCO to defend the shameful display of the vile antisemitic float in Aalst Carnival.
No lessons learned.
We are back to square one.@israelinunesco pic.twitter.com/3pVmmPQwW1
. @unesco recommends today the removal of Aalst Carnival in Belgium from World Intangible Cultural Heritage due to blatantly anti Semitic floats . A recommendation we fully support and which we hope will be adopted at the UNESCO meeting in Bogotá in December. @israelinunesco pic.twitter.com/x4Z5BlIKer
— Emmanuel Nahshon (@EmmanuelNahshon) November 8, 2019
"We have had it a bit with the grotesque complaints and Aalst will renounce its UNESCO recognition", Aalst mayor Christoph D'Haese said, according to Belga news agency.
He added, however, that that Jewish caricatures would inevitably be seen during the parade next year.
“We are neither anti-Semitic nor racist. All those who support this are acting in bad faith. Aalst will always remain the capital of mockery and satire", he said.
