Difference between revisions of "Michel Houllebecq"

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His sixth novel ''Submission'', scheduled to be published in English in September 2015 is set in 2022, and imagines France electing its first Muslim president.<ref name="Peng"/>. As a consequence, in the novel 'immediately all women go veiled in the street, state secondary schools adopt an Islamic curriculum, and [the protagonist] François is informed that he cannot return to his university work unless he converts to Islam.'<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/09/soumission-michel-houellebecq-review-charlie-hebdo Soumission by Michel Houellebecq review – much more than a satire on Islamism], The Guardian, 9 January 2015</ref> Critics argued that this narrative was fear-mongering and accused him of fomenting Islamophobia.<ref name="Dear">Lizzie Dearden, [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/author-of-book-envisioning-2022-france-under-muslim-rule-says-novel-is-not-islamophobic-9958954.html Michel Houellebecq's Submission: Author says novel imagining Muslim-run France is not Islamophobic scare story], The Independent, 5 January 2015</ref>
 
His sixth novel ''Submission'', scheduled to be published in English in September 2015 is set in 2022, and imagines France electing its first Muslim president.<ref name="Peng"/>. As a consequence, in the novel 'immediately all women go veiled in the street, state secondary schools adopt an Islamic curriculum, and [the protagonist] François is informed that he cannot return to his university work unless he converts to Islam.'<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/09/soumission-michel-houellebecq-review-charlie-hebdo Soumission by Michel Houellebecq review – much more than a satire on Islamism], The Guardian, 9 January 2015</ref> Critics argued that this narrative was fear-mongering and accused him of fomenting Islamophobia.<ref name="Dear">Lizzie Dearden, [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/author-of-book-envisioning-2022-france-under-muslim-rule-says-novel-is-not-islamophobic-9958954.html Michel Houellebecq's Submission: Author says novel imagining Muslim-run France is not Islamophobic scare story], The Independent, 5 January 2015</ref>
  
Likely due to this them, Houellebecq was featured on the cover of [[Charlie Hebdo]], the French magazine where 12 people were murdered on on 7 January 2015, shortly before the attacks. Houellebecq reportedly 'postponed promotional work and retreated to an unspecified location' following the attacks.<ref name="Peng"/>
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Likely due to this theme, Houellebecq was featured on the cover of [[Charlie Hebdo]], the French magazine where 12 people were murdered on on 7 January 2015, shortly before the attacks. Houellebecq reportedly 'postponed promotional work and retreated to an unspecified location' following the attacks.<ref name="Peng"/>
  
In a previous novel, ''Platform'', two characters are murdered by Muslims, reportedly described in the book as 'clots' in the 'blood vessels' of Europe.<ref name="Dear"/>
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The storyline bears comparisosn to [[Bat Ye'or]]'s [[Eurabia]] conspiracy theory which argues that Muslims will become a majority and force non-Muslims to live according to a strict interpretation of Islam.
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In a previous Houllebecq novel, ''Platform'', two characters are murdered by Muslims, reportedly described in the book as 'clots' in the 'blood vessels' of Europe.<ref name="Dear"/>
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
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[[Category:Islam Critics|Houllebecq, Michel]]
 
[[Category:Islam Critics|Houllebecq, Michel]]
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[[Category:France|Houllebecq, Michel]]

Revision as of 15:30, 3 February 2015

Michel Houllebecq is a controversial French novelist. According to one source, he frequently criticises 'liberalism, feminism and religion. Particularly religion, and especially Islam'.[1]

Views

On Islam

In 2002 Houllebecq was charged with inciting racial or religious hatred after calling Islam 'the most stupid of religions' but was acquitted in court.[1]

Activities

His sixth novel Submission, scheduled to be published in English in September 2015 is set in 2022, and imagines France electing its first Muslim president.[1]. As a consequence, in the novel 'immediately all women go veiled in the street, state secondary schools adopt an Islamic curriculum, and [the protagonist] François is informed that he cannot return to his university work unless he converts to Islam.'[2] Critics argued that this narrative was fear-mongering and accused him of fomenting Islamophobia.[3]

Likely due to this theme, Houellebecq was featured on the cover of Charlie Hebdo, the French magazine where 12 people were murdered on on 7 January 2015, shortly before the attacks. Houellebecq reportedly 'postponed promotional work and retreated to an unspecified location' following the attacks.[1]

The storyline bears comparisosn to Bat Ye'or's Eurabia conspiracy theory which argues that Muslims will become a majority and force non-Muslims to live according to a strict interpretation of Islam.

In a previous Houllebecq novel, Platform, two characters are murdered by Muslims, reportedly described in the book as 'clots' in the 'blood vessels' of Europe.[3]

Notes