Posted on 09/16/2002 1:50:32 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Prize-winning French novelist Michel Houellebecq is to stand trial on Tuesday on charges of making a racial insult and inciting religious hatred. The controversial writer is being sued by four Islamic organisations in Paris after making "insulting" remarks about the religion in an interview about his latest book. The novel, Platform, is also cited in the case being made by the largest mosques in Paris and Lyon, the National Federation of French Muslims (FNMN) and the World Islamic League. In an interview given last year to the French literary magazine Lire, the author was quoted as saying "the dumbest religion, after all, is Islam".
"When you read the Koran, you're shattered. The Bible at least is beautifully written because the Jews have a heck of a literary talent," he told Lire.
The author, who recently won the Impac literary prize, is used to the controversy - and the attendant publicity - arising from his frank and sometimes nihilistic novels.
He has neither retracted his comments nor defended the main character in his novel Platform, who admits to a "quiver of glee" every time a "Palestinian terrorist" is killed.
"A writer is not interviewed as if he were on a political stage with a microphone," his lawyer Emmanuel Pierrat said.
'Humorous' Last year Mr Houellebecq said he had "a gift" for insults and provocation.
"In my novels, it adds a certain spice. It's rather humorous, no? What I think as an individual seems to be of no importance here," he said in an interview.
But the lawyers for the Paris and Lyon mosques said in a statement: "It is anti-Muslim racism that is at the heart of the trial, not the personality or the provocative tastes of one successful author or another."
Houellebecq, who lives in Ireland, is working on the film adaptation of his novel Atomised (Les Particules Elementaires).
He has said he plans to explain his thought processes to the court - and that a number of French literary figures will speak in his defence.
He faces a year in jail or a 52,000 euro (£33,000) fine if he loses the case.
The French are to justice what the British are to cuisine.
And please serve that pork chop with a side of french fries!
I know the feeling....
Well I guess this is fair, just as long as nobody at those organizations have ever made any "insulting" remarks about any other religions.
Or maybe advocating killing people just because of their religion should be considered just as insulting. If so, lets all sue. Our rights are being violated. Call the lawyers. We've all got a case.
LOL!!! Anyone who insults islam is a friend of mine -- even if he is a surrender monkey.
Freedom of speech in France = Thought Control
Overvoice [Word superimposed on screen]
France-- [FRANCE]
Rolling countrysides, Sprawling Vineyards, [Vineyards]
Quaint Cafes... [Cafes]
France-- [FRANCE]
Home to the world's greatest painters, [Painters]
Chefs, [Chefs]
And Anti-Semites. [Anti-Semites]
The French--
Cowardly, yet opinionated, [Cowardly]
Arrogant, yet foul-smelling, [Foul-Smelling]
Anti-Israel, Anti-American,
And of course, as always, jew-hating. [Jew-Hating]
Paris-- [PARIS]
The City of Whores, [Whores]
Dog feces on every corner, [Feces]
And effete men yelling antisemitic remarks at children.
The real creme-de-la-creme of world culture. [A-holes]
With all that's going on in the world,
Isn't it about time we got back to hating The French?
We should follow the case. If he gets the fine, we should all chip in and pay it for him. When word got out that Americans helped him..... well, just imagine...
A wise preacher said last week that there are plenty of countries around the world where people are killed, imprisoned, tortured for "offending"...Saudi Arabia, Sudan, N. Korea, Iraq, etc., but "this is America, JACK!" We have this Constitutionally protected, endowed by our Creator, "Freedom of Speech." The easily offended can move to a country where offending is not allowed.....but they'll find it highly offensive. (^:
The "easily offended" are following a road that doesn't lead to Heaven....and their Utopia that will never exist on earth. Sue the ACLU.
So are all his followers. Islam is the scourge of humanity. It seeks to destroy all other beliefs. When was the last time Muslims turned out to protest their inhumane treatment of Copts, Maronite Christians, Buddhists, Roman Catholics, and the rest of the world. Islam is the essence of Evil. So sue me too.
You should take the time to read the Quran and the Hadith. The Hadith contian a lot of information about the life and character and teachings of Mohammed.
Since when did Islam become a race?
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