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At the beginning of his career, Houellebecq gained the regard of left-leaning critics through clearly expressing his disapproval of neoliberal individualism as it blighted Western Europe. Today, the same critics regard him as a \u201cprophet of the populist right\u201d along the lines of Steve Bannon, not the intellectual name-checked at rallies for Jean-Luc M\u00e9lenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, the left-wing populist party. What has become typical of Houellebecq, as he stepped with mounting boldness into the role of provocateur and trickster, is the increasing radicalization of his views in a conservative-reactionary direction. Despite this, he remains an author who is difficult to pigeonhole, if only due to his sensitivity and excellent ear for social discourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Late last year, the magazine Front Populaire<\/em> published an extensive conversation between Houellebecq and the philosopher Michel Onfray. It has provoked an uproar across the political spectrum, even among those on the far right, where Houellebecq\u2019s antics had been approved to date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the interview\u2019s first part, he focused on alarming demographic indicators before arriving smoothly at the conclusion that the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, in which white Europeans are being replaced by Muslims, was not just a theory but a fact. Furthermore, he portrayed Muslims as a threat to the security of the non-Muslim French: \u201cThe wish of the French natives is not that Muslims assimilate, but that they stop stealing from them and attacking them; or, another solution, that they leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Houellebecq also threatened readers with a \u201cBataclan in reverse\u201d targeted at Muslims, in an allusion to the terrorist attack on a Paris concert venue on November 13, 2015. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even by Houellebecq’s lofty standards of discourse, recent statements have gone far beyond standard critiques of religion commonly accepted in secular France. Therefore, the Grand Mosque of Paris filed an official court complaint that was then withdrawn after a meeting between the two litigants. The writer has officially changed his position on French Muslims and expressed his \u201cdeep regret for the words spoken.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n It wasn\u2019t the first time Houellbecq’s derogatory remarks about Islam and its followers have wound up in court. In 2002, the justice system found Houellebecq guilty of inciting religious and racial hatred after he called Islam a \u201cstupid religion\u201d and described the Qur’an as \u201cbadly written\u201d (the latter allegation was dismissed). Another controversy arose in 2015 with the release of Submission<\/em>, the plot of which revolves around a Muslim political party turning France into an Islamic state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In January of this year, a trailer for Dutch filmmaker Stefan Ruitenbeek\u2019s coming release circulated on the Internet, in which the world-famous writer kisses and hugs a young woman. The clip is from the feature film Kirac 27<\/em>,’ which includes a sex scene between Houellebecq and a Dutch sex worker. Following the trailer\u2019s release, the writer complained in the media that the film had damaged his reputation. He also claimed the contract between him and the director was void as he was under the influence of alcohol while signing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A complaint was duly filed in Dutch court, in which Houellebecq demanded \u201can immediate halt to the attacks on his person\u201d through \u201cwithdrawing the trailer from platforms and social networks.\u201d He even proceeded to try his case in court to annul the contract on the grounds mentioned above. The Amsterdam court did not agree with the \u201cwronged\u201d Frenchman and allowed the film to be released. Its premiere has yet to be announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read also:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n