After meeting the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, the author will correct his contentious remarks against Muslims, reveals “Le Figaro”.
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Faces the indignation aroused by his remarks about Muslims in the magazine Popular Front, Michel Houellebecq is backtracking. As reported Le FigaroThursday, January 5, the winner of the Goncourt prize in 2010 will modify the controversial passages, released in the review of Michel Onfray, which published 45 pages of a conversation between the writer and the philosopher.
After its publication, the Great Mosque of Paris announced its intention to file a complaint against the writer for “incitement to hatred against Muslims”. According to our colleagues, the legal proceedings initiated are no longer relevant after a meeting between the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, and Michel Houellebecq. An interview at the end of which the author undertook to clarify certain extracts, which he considers “reducing”, in a future book which will bring together his entire conversation with Michel Onfray.
READ ALSOHouellebecq case: what the writer risks
“I am willing to acknowledge that the relevant paragraphs are ambiguous. I will therefore replace them, in the next edition, with paragraphs that better explain my point, and which, I hope, will not offend Muslims”, also indicated Michel Houellebecq in a letter addressed to the Figaro.
The new version of paragraphs unveiled
In his complaint initially filed, and which is now suspended, Chems-Eddine Hafiz had castigated two passages in particular from the writer. Our colleagues, to whom Michel Houellebecq entrusted the critical paragraphs, publish their new version to come.
Here is the first paragraph pointed out by the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris: “When entire territories are really under Islamist control, then I think that acts of resistance will take place. There will be attacks and shootings in mosques, in cafes frequented by Muslims, in short Bataclans upside down. And Muslims will not just put candles and bouquets of flowers. So, yes, things can go quite quickly. One of the most remarkable things in the reactions to the “letter from the generals” was the proportion of French people who expect a civil war in the near future. »
READ ALSOChems-Eddine Hafiz: “I fight Houellebecq and all those who attack Muslims in France”
The new version of Michel Houellebecq is as follows: “If whole territories really came under Islamist control, then yes, I think that acts of resistance would take place. There would be attacks and shootings in mosques, in cafes frequented by Muslims, in short Bataclans upside down. And Muslims would not just put candles and bouquets of flowers. So, yeah, things could go pretty fast. One of the most remarkable things in the reactions to the “letter from the generals” was the proportion of French people who expect a civil war in the near future. I do not believe that the conditions are currently met. First of all, the police should effectively no longer be able to enter certain neighborhoods; this is not the case: they sometimes have trouble, they have to deploy great means, but they succeed. Then the army itself should no longer be able to enter it; and that seems improbable to me. »
The second paragraph incriminated by Chems-Eddine Hafiz was: “I believe that the wish of the native French population, as they say, is not at all for Muslims to assimilate, but simply for them to stop steal and attack them, in short that they respect the law, and that they respect them. Or, another good solution, let them leave. »
READ ALSOMichel Onfray – Open letter to the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris
Here is how Michel Houellebecq returns to his remarks: “In my opinion, the wish of a large part of the French population of origin, as they say, is not above all that Muslims assimilate. The stories of veils, burkinis, halal food etc., they won’t care at all as soon as they no longer perceive Muslims as a threat to their security. What they are asking for, and even demanding, is that foreign criminals be expelled, and in general that justice be harsher with petty offenders. Much more severe. »