Freedom of expression: Michel Houellebecq denounces the rise of censorship

In a no-holds-barred interview for JDNews, bestselling writer Michel Houellebecq discusses his unwavering commitment to freedom of expression, while acknowledging one limitation: respect for privacy. In the midst of current events, where this right seems constantly under threat, Houellebecq reflects on his personal experiences, his trials, and the growing dangers posed by censorship and the culture of indignation.

Freedom of expression, a personal fight

Asked about his initial hesitation to participate in this interview, the writer explains: "I thought that the issue of freedom of expression was outdated in France." However, in hindsight, he remembers having himself been dragged to court twice. The first trial pitted him against a holiday center, and the second against the Dignitas association, in Switzerland and Germany, for his comments on assisted suicide. In both cases, he won, but the writer draws a bitter conclusion: "You have to be wary of interviews, just as much as you have to be wary of police custody."

Houellebecq admits only one limit to freedom of expression: privacy. He remembers having kept the real names of some secondary characters in his first novel, a mistake he regrets today. "When a person sees their private life revealed in a novel, I feel on the side of the complainant," he confides. On the other hand, he believes that a public figure, as a "brand," cannot complain about criticism of them. This includes figures like Philippe Sollers, Mick Jagger or Karl Lagerfeld, whom he has mentioned without ever being attacked.

Freedom in decline

According to him, freedom of expression has regressed. He points to the contrast between the glowing reviews in the French media for American authors like Bret Easton Ellis, while the same comments would be unacceptable coming from a French author. He adds: "If I had to give advice to young authors, it would be to give their interviews to foreign media."

Houellebecq has been on trial, particularly after his controversial comments on Islam in 2001. He regrets the rise of whistleblowers in the media and on social networks: "The slightest tweet is monitored. Online comments bring out the worst in people." This culture of lynching has, according to him, dramatic social consequences, as illustrated by the cases of John Galliano and Gérard Depardieu, whom he defends against accusations from the courts and public opinion.

A bleak future for freedom of expression

When asked whether there are "forbidden blasphemies," Houellebecq answers without hesitation that the list of taboo subjects continues to grow. Artists, once protected, are now in the crosshairs of censorship. He concludes by citing Gaspard Proust, a humorist he admires, but whom he fears will soon be the victim of this hunt for the slightest deviation from political correctness.