Controversial French writer Michel Houellebecq was placed under formal investigation on Tuesday on suspicion of complicity in incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence, according to a source close to the case cited by AFP. The 70-year-old author, described as arguably France's most famous writer internationally, has grown increasingly controversial as his pessimistic views on Western civilisation align with the far-right.
The investigation concerns comments about Muslims published in 2022 in Front Populaire magazine during an interview with philosopher Michel Onfray. In the interview, the author of "Submission" described Muslims as a security threat, stating that the native French population wants Muslims to stop stealing from and attacking them or alternatively to leave. He also warned of future "Bataclans in reverse" targeting Muslims, referencing the November 13, 2015 jihadist attacks in Paris.
Following the remarks, the Union of Mosques of France (UMF) filed a complaint in 2023 against Houellebecq, Onfray and Front Populaire director Stephane Simon. Lawyers Thibault de Montbrial and Louis Cailliez stated on behalf of the writer that his statements contained no element of incitement, adding that a prophet of doom does not wish misfortune and that his place is not in a courtroom.
In his memoir "A Few Months in My Life: October 2022-March 2023", Houellebecq described his remarks as clumsy and claimed he was a victim of his own stupidity or naivety. Najwa El Haite, a lawyer for the UMF, told AFP that freedom of expression is fundamental but cannot justify everything, noting that incitement to hatred does not fall within intellectual debate.
The Grand Mosque of Paris had also considered legal action against the writer but dropped it after meeting him. Houellebecq previously made his name by dissecting touchy subjects including sex, race and religion using dark irony and clinical detachment.
Source: The Local. Read the original report ↗