From Dystopia to Grotesque

French author Michel Houellebecq is under investigation for incitement to racism following a 2021 interview. The complaint was filed by the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, and the Chief Rabbi mediated, but other organizations chose to leave the complaint in place. The article claims Houellebecq's words have come true and criticizes the alleged unfairness.

French author Michel Houellebecq faces an official investigation on suspicion of incitement to violence and racism against Muslims, following an interview he gave four years ago to the magazine "Front Populaire." The first complaint was filed by the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, and the Chief Rabbi of France mediated between the parties, but other organizations, including the Union of Mosques of France and the French League for Human Rights, decided to leave the complaint in place. The article claims that Houellebecq's words have come true, citing the riots in France and the shooting attack in Trappes in October 2026 on racist grounds. The author criticizes the alleged unfairness: any hiccup related to Muslims is cast as Islamophobia, while support for Hamas and October 7 is defined as freedom of speech.