Thibault de Montbrial
Role at the time: Lawyer for Michel Houellebecq, in a statement with his co-counsel Louis Cailliez to BFMTV and AFP
Challenged the characterization
Response to this claim
Houellebecq's 2022 remarks about Muslims contain no exhortation, even implicit, and therefore fall within freedom of opinion and expression.
“Michel Houellebecq contests the criminal offense of which he is accused. The remarks at issue contain no element of exhortation, even implicit, and therefore fall within freedom of opinion and expression (Translated from French. Original: Michel Houellebecq conteste le délit pénal qui lui est reproché. Les propos incriminés ne contiennent pas de dimension d'exhortation, même implicite, et relèvent donc de la liberté d'opinion et d'expression)”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Michel Houellebecq mis en examen pour des propos hostiles aux musulmans · BFMTVFull article
Why we used this label
The reference point is Michel Houellebecq's November 2022 remarks about Muslims in Front Populaire, now under judicial investigation. His lawyers dispute that the remarks amount to incitement, saying they contain no exhortation and belong to free expression, which challenges the characterization. They do not argue that the content of the remarks was right, so defends or excuses does not fit.