Freedom of expression should be defended, but in France a judge has accused Michel Houellebecq of “complicity in incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence against Islam”. The danger that Europe too could end up like Algeria, where Kamel Daud is in prison for having written a great novel about the “black decade”

“The French are starting to get used to violence. For several years now, whenever there is an event that brings large numbers of people onto the streets, there is looting. Always.” So said the writer to the Spanish newspapers El País and ABC.

At the 27th edition of Pordenonelegge, we met the French writer to discuss poetry, politics, science fiction and artificial intelligence: “Me, a prophet? It makes me laugh, but perhaps that’s how it was.”