In recent years, groups with racist behavior have repeatedly been noticed. The carnival committee is now taking action against this.
Source: dpa
No racism, no sexism: This is what the Basel Carnival Committee wrote into the rules of conduct for the Basel Carnival this year. The guide has been around for a long time. The new passage is intended to make it clear: sexist behavior and racist depictions have no tradition in the Basel carnival and have no place in the costumes or floats. Nevertheless, there has been repeated discrimination among those celebrating in the past. “In principle, we only recommend: stick to the laws,” says Daniel Hanimann from the Fasnacht Committee.
Racism again and again at the Basel carnival
The rules of conduct are intended to prevent incidents like those in recent years. Until 2018, a music group had a logo that depicted a black man with a bone in his hair. In 2019, a group showed stereotypical migrants intimidating a child on a lantern – typical of the Basel carnival.
That was clearly racist, says Alma Wiecken. She heads the secretariat of the Federal Commission against Racism. But these are individual cases. She emphasizes:
The Basel carnival itself is not racist.
Alma Wiecken, Federal Commission against Racism
With the guidelines, the committee makes it clear that “the satire and criticism of the carnival groups should be directed from the bottom up,” says Alma Wiecken – i.e. from the population towards politics. Disparaging minorities is not one of them.
Basel carnival
The Basel carnival traditionally starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday. During the parades, the groups – so-called cliques – show off new costumes, floats and the typical lanterns every year. In doing so, they address current political or social issues. The Basel carnival is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
New passage in the rules of conduct
“Racism, xenophobia, sexism, name-calling and insults, denigration of those who think and feel differently, as well as all other forms of discriminatory behavior do not correspond to the spirit of the Basel Carnival – but behaving decently and in accordance with the law does.”
Report sexual violence and queer hostility
The freedom of fools is not threatened by the new passage, says Andi Hass from the Gläbberle Waggis, a Basel carnival group. “The rules of conduct only appeal to common sense and do not mean any restrictions,” he says. Most members of the clique are over 60 years old. They grew up with terms that are no longer relevant today. However, they know and respect this.
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“I avoid carnival every year because of the fear of sexual violence, racism and queer hostility,” says Angel Yakoub. The 24-year-old fled Syria in 2008, is queer and lives in Basel. As Vice President of JUSOS Baselland, she calls for further measures such as a reporting tool for discriminatory incidents.
This is how racism is punished
Carnival groups do not face any direct penalties for violations. The committee announces that in such cases it will give the groups’ performance a lower grade. Each year the committee evaluates each group’s floats, signature lanterns and costumes. The grade determines how much money the committee distributes to a group after the carnival. This criterion is not new, but it is being communicated publicly for the first time this year.
The committee does not specify how much money a group could lose as a result of a violation. The budget is traditionally secret. More important than the amount is the signal effect that a deduction has, says Daniel Hanimann from the Fasnacht Committee.
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Swaying is forbidden in Basel
The guide is aimed not only at carnival groups, but also at visitors. Anyone who visits the Basel carnival should also pay attention to this older guideline: “Cad noses, fool’s hats, swaying and shouting (…) are frowned upon at the Basel carnival.”
Unlike the German carnival, guests are more spectators than part of the carnival. They should behave accordingly cautiously. “Under no circumstances should you dress up,” warns Daniel Hanimann. Otherwise you risk getting dirty looks from the people of Basel.
Jona Gebhard reports on Switzerland.
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