Open letter to the Austrian Commission for UNESCO

Regards: Right-wing extremism as Intangible Cultural Heritage???

Dear Members of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO,

We are in disbelief at yesterday’s news about the explicit classification of the Ball of the infamous Wiener Korporationsring (WKR) – a union of 19 of Austria’s most right wing or, as per their own definition, ‘German-national’ student fraternities – as ‘intangible Austrian cultural heritage’, by the Austrian Commission for UNESCO. It is absurd. Is it the Commission’s serious intention to declare right-wing extremism a cultural heritage?

Featuring the WKR Ball on the list of Viennese balls has severe implications for both Austria’s and UNESCO’s reputations. With a view to mitigating intangible damage, therefore request the immediate removal of the WKR Ball from the list.

Yours faithfully,
Alexander Pollak

PS. All members of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO are cordially invited to join a demonstration against right-wing extremism on 27 January at 6.30pm at the Heldenplatz. The need for such a demonstration appears stronger than ever in Austria’s Second Republic.