FRANCE: Provocative French novelist Michel Houellebecq faced a Paris court yesterday for allegedly inciting racial hatred by calling Islam "the stupidest religion" and its holy book, the Koran, a "depressing read".
The case, brought by four Muslim groups, is a cause célèbre reminiscent of the Salman Rushdie affair, pitting freedom of expression against religious sensitivities.
The Muslim groups, which comprise the Mecca-based World Islamic League and the Paris and Lyon mosques, and the National Federation of Muslims in France,accuse the writer of insulting Islam in an interview with the literary magazine Lire during last year's launch of his novel Plateforme. Lire is also on trial over the remarks, which have taken on an added significance in France in the atmosphere of heightened sensitivity about Islam following the September 11th attacks.
Régine Desforges, one of five writers due to testify in Mr Houellebecq's defence, denied he was guilty of racism. "Writers are free to say whatever they want."
Lyon Mosque rector Mr Kamel Kabtan retorted: "We are for freedom of expression, but not for insulting communities."
The Irish-based Mr Houellebecq (45), the bête noire of contemporary French literature, is no stranger to controversy. He offended conservatives and the politically correct left with his 1998 novel Les Particules Élémentaires (Atomised, in English), which won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for 2002.
His lawyer argued that the case re-established the notion of blasphemy, despite the fact that France, as a secular state, had no such law. Mr Houellebecq's publisher Flammarion has distanced itself from the author, whose comments some say may have cost him France's prestigious Goncourt prize. Losing his case may mean a year in jail or a $51,000 fine. - (Reuters)