The rector of the Paris Mosque: "Why I agreed to meet Michel Houellebecq"

Chems-eddine Mohamed Hafi is rector of the Great Mosque of Paris.

Following a public and fraternal proposal from Grand Rabbi Haïm Korsia to put us around a table with the writer Michel Houellebecq, I agreed to dialogue with the man whose remarks in the special issue of the magazine

have seriously hurt the Muslims of France.

Like any citizen attached to the precious values ​​that make up our life together, I like freedom and creativity.

The love of beautiful letters led me to create a literary prize last December which aroused enthusiasm and admiration.

Literary creation has therefore taken up residence at the Great Mosque of Paris, one of the lanterns of the city of light.

But then, why this controversy with Michel Houellebecq?

To seize the competent jurisdictions was our only means of answering the defamations against the honor of the Moslems.

Chems-eddine Mohamed

It comes from the confusion between literary creation and public speech.

Caught in the act of skidding, Michel Houellebecq could hardly put his recent remarks on the account of a flash…

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