Entertainment · Books & Arts · 1 hr ago
Michel Houellebecq placed under formal investigation over remarks about Muslims
French writer Michel Houellebecq was placed under formal investigation on Tuesday by a judge in Nanterre, near Paris.
The case concerns remarks about Muslims published in November 2022 in the magazine Front populaire, in an interview with philosopher Michel Onfray.
Houellebecq described Muslims as a threat to the security of people he called native French, and spoke of possible attacks if areas came under Islamic control.
The investigation concerns alleged complicity in inciting discrimination, hatred or violence, but this does not mean he has been convicted.
The Grand Mosque of Paris filed a complaint in December 2022 over the remarks, then dropped its legal action in September 2023 after Houellebecq made changes to the text and expressed regret.
The available information does not say what happens next in the investigation.
Michel Houellebecq was formally placed under investigation in France on November 10, 2026, over remarks about Muslims.
A judge in Nanterre opened the case over alleged complicity in incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence.
The case concerns comments in a 2022 interview in the magazine Front Populaire.
The Paris Grand Mosque filed a complaint in December 2022, then dropped its legal action in September 2023 after Houellebecq made changes to the text and expressed regret.
- Who
- French writer Michel Houellebecq.
- What
- He was formally placed under investigation over alleged complicity in incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence.
- When
- November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Before an investigating judge in Nanterre, in the Paris region of France.
- Why
- The case concerns remarks about Muslims in a 2022 interview in Front Populaire.
French judicial authorities
Michel Houellebecq
Legal action
French judicial authorities
A judge placed Houellebecq under formal investigation over alleged complicity in incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence.
Michel Houellebecq
Houellebecq disputed the criminal charges through his lawyers.
Remarks about Muslims
French judicial authorities
The case concerns comments in which Houellebecq predicted attacks and shootings in places frequented by Muslims.
Michel Houellebecq
Houellebecq’s lawyers disputed the charges; the articles do not give his specific response to the allegations.
Houellebecq made the remarks in an interview published in Front Populaire; Le Monde dates it to November 20, while franceinfo describes it as late November.
The Paris Grand Mosque said it had filed a complaint over the remarks.
The Grand Mosque decided to drop its legal action after Houellebecq made changes to the text and expressed regret.
A judge in Nanterre placed Houellebecq under formal investigation.
- Writer
- Michel Houellebecq
- Judge
- Investigating judge in Nanterre
- Interview magazine
- Front Populaire
- Interview date
- November 2022; sources differ on the precise date
- Formal investigation
- November 10, 2026
- Initial complainant
- The Paris Grand Mosque
3 sources
El escritor Michel Houellebecq, imputado por incitación al odio y discriminación contra el Islam
Michel Houellebecq charged over comments about Muslims in 2022 interview
Michel Houellebecq mis en examen pour "complicité de provocation à la discrimination, à la haine ou à la violence" après des propos sur les musulmans
What people are saying
When entire territories come under Islamist control, I think acts of resistance will take place. There will be attacks and shootings in mosques, in cafés frequented by Muslims, in short, Bataclans in reverse