A French museum has postponed an exhibit concerning the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan citing interference by the Chinese language authorities, which it accuses of attempting to rewrite historical past.
The Château des ducs de Bretagne historical past museum within the western metropolis of Nantes stated it was placing the present concerning the fearsome thirteenth century chief on maintain for over three years.
The museum’s director, Bertrand Guillet, stated: “We made the choice to cease this manufacturing within the identify of the human, scientific and moral values that we defend.”
It stated the Chinese language authorities demanded that sure phrases, together with “Genghis Khan,” “Empire” and “Mongol” be taken out of the present. Subsequently they requested for energy over exhibition brochures, legends and maps.
The spat comes because the Chinese language authorities has hardened its discrimination against ethnic Mongols, lots of whom stay within the northern province of Interior Mongolia.
The exhibit was deliberate in collaboration with the Interior Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, China. However tensions arose, the Nantes museum stated, when the Chinese language Bureau of Cultural Heritage pressured the museum for modifications to the unique plan, “together with notably parts of biased rewriting of Mongol tradition in favour of a brand new nationwide narrative”.
The museum branded it “censorship” and stated it underlined a “hardening … of the place of the Chinese language authorities towards the Mongolian minority”.
The Chinese language consulate in Paris didn’t instantly return requires remark.
