On January 1, 2023, the Union des mosquées de France—representing Muslim communities—filed a formal complaint against Michel Houellebecq. The grievance centered on remarks he had made in a 2022 interview, in which he spoke sharply about Muslims.
On May 24, 2023, Houellebecq released a new novel. This event occurred between the initial complaint and the dropping of charges by the Grande Mosquée de Paris.
On September 1, 2023, the Grande Mosquée de Paris announced that it was dropping the charges it had previously considered. The stance attributed to the mosque in this period was described as neutral.
” He also observed: “Quand des territoires entiers seront sous contrôle islamiste, je pense que des actes de résistance auront lieu.
In November 2026, specifically on the 1st, Houellebecq appeared in an interview. In that conversation, he stated: “Le souhait de la population française de souche, comme on dit, ce n’est pas que les musulmans s’assimilent mais qu’ils cessent de les voler et de les agresser.” He also observed: “Quand des territoires entiers seront sous contrôle islamiste, je pense que des actes de résistance auront lieu.”
On November 10, 2026, Houellebecq was formally charged with complicity of provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence. The indictment was a direct response to his comments in the 2022 interview.
Four years have passed since the first complaint was filed. The union’s stance on the matter is critical, as is Houellebecq’s stance regarding the allegations.