Belgian mayor defends ‘Nazi’ Jewish caricatures on carnival float
Anti-Semitic row over display in Aalst parade that showed smiling Jews, sacks of money and a rat
A Belgian mayor has defended a float in his city’s annual carnival that Jewish groups say “looked like Nazi propaganda”.
The controversial display featured “two huge figures of men with large sideburns, crooked noses and wearing shtreimels, a fur hat worn by some Orthodox Jews”, reports The Independent. One of the figures had a rat on his shoulder, and they were surrounded by sacks of money.
A platform following the float in the parade, in the northwestern city of Aalst last weekend, carried revellers dressed in similar costumes who danced to a song about “bulging coffers” and “Jews getting extra fat”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Two umbrella groups of Belgian Jews have filed a federal complaint for incitement against the group behind the display, called Vismooil’n, saying the float looked like Nazi propaganda, reports the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA).
“The caricatures, like those of [Nazi German newspaper] Der Sturmer, of Jews with a crooked nose and suitcases, are typical of the Nazism of 1939,” a spokesperson for Belgium’s Forum of Jewish Organisations said. “This has no place in 2019, carnival or not. The Jewish community naturally accepts humour is very important in a society, but there are limits that cannot be exceeded.”
But Aalst’s Mayor Christoph D’Haese defended the spectacle, telling Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that “it’s not up to the mayor to forbid” such displays, and that “the carnival participants had no sinister intentions”.
Pascal Soleme, who composed the float’s song, told the JTA he had no qualms about being involved in the project.
“I think the people who are offended are living in the past, of the Holocaust, but this was about the present,” he said. “There was never any intention to insult anyone. It was a celebration of humour.”
Soleme claimed the Vismooil’n group chose the Jewish theme “because we weren’t sure we’d be doing a 2020 tour [because of rising costs], so that would mean we’d be taking a sabbatical”.
Accordingly, the float was named “Sabbat Jaar”, or “sabbath year”, which in Dutch primarily refers the the biblical sabbatical year in which Jews are commanded not to work the land, but can also mean a general sabbatical.
In a further statement to Het Laatste Nieuws, Vismooil’n said: “We came up with the idea to put Jews on our float. Not to make the faith ridiculous - carnival is simply a festival of caricature.
“We found it comical to have pink Jews in the procession with a safe to keep the money we saved. You can have a laugh with other religions too.”
However, the European Commission - headquartered just 20 miles from Aalst, in Brussels - called on the Belgian authorities to take action.
Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said: “It should be obvious to all that portraying such representations in the streets of Europe is absolutely unthinkable, 74 years after the Holocaust.
“It is the responsibility of the national authorities to take the appropriate measures on the basis of the applicable law.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 2, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published