You might think it’s a joke… but no. The organizers of the Fête de l’Humanité have indeed invited the founder of the Party of the Indigenous People of the Republic (PIR) Houria Bouteldja to participate in a debate soberly entitled “Fighting anti-Semitism: beyond its Zionist and Islamophobic instrumentalizations” on the occasion of the event which will take place in Plessis-Pâté (Essonne).
An announcement that did not fail to spark controversy on social networks. And for good reason: the decolonial activist is regularly singled out for her comments on Jews. “Fighting anti-Semitism with Houria Bouteldja and the natives of the Republic. Who said that the left has lost its sense of humor?” lamented journalist Lucas Jakubowicz on X.
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“What if we invited Patrick Poivre d’Arvor to fight against sexist and sexual violence?” added Génération Charlie, a youth association “secular and irresponsible” linked to Charlie Hebdo, which prompts spectators to turn instead to the stand of the Golem Collective of Jonas Pardo – who presents himself as a “left-wing Zionist”, critical of the Israeli government.
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“Zionists in the Gulag”
Table of Contents
- 1 “Zionists in the Gulag”
- 2 Close to LFI
- 3 – Why has Houria Bouteldja’s invitation to the Fête de l’Humanité caused controversy?
- 4 The ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism and racism in contemporary discourse. It raises important questions about the boundaries of free speech, the platforming of controversial figures, and the responsibility of cultural organizations to create inclusive spaces.
Table of Contents
Anti-Semitism accusations against the author of Rednecks and Barbarians (La Fabrique, 2023) are not new. In 2013, she already caused a lively controversy by posing in a photograph next to a sign that read: “Zionists to the Gulag!”
His book Whites, Jews and Us : vtowards a revolutionary politics of love (La Fabrique, 2016) had also been criticized, both in The Point that in Release or Mariannebecause of his theses “racialists”of course “identity drift” and his obsession with the Israeli question.
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“We do not recognize a Jew because he declares himself Jewish, but by his thirst to blend into whiteness,” she wrote for example in this work, thus insinuating that the latter had made a pact with the Whites. Or again: “The worst thing is my look when I pass a child in the street wearing a kippah. That fleeting moment when I stop to look at him. The worst thing is the disappearance of my indifference towards you, the possible prelude to my inner ruin.”
Close to LFI
But Houria Bouteldja’s relationship with Jews is not the only controversial subject of her ideology. In 2016, during a debate in the show “Tonight (or never!)” on France 2the former member of La France Insoumise Thomas Guénolé documented his “racism” and her misogyny, citing in particular a passage from her book where she considered that “If a black woman is raped by a black man, it is understandable that she does not file a complaint to protect the black community.”
“As everyone knows, the tarlouze is not quite a man. Thus, the Arab who loses his virile power is no longer a man,” she assured again in this essay also described as homophobic by many commentators.
Despite the load of skeletons in the closet that she is dragging around, the former spokesperson for the PIR is nonetheless supported by many left-wing intellectuals such as the writer François Bégaudeau and the Nobel Prize winner for literature Annie Ernaux, who did not hesitate to sign a platform to defend it in 2021.
For several years, Houria Bouteldja and her close friends (former members of the PIR, members of the anti-Zionist collective Tsedek, the decolonial YouTube channel Parole d’Honneur, etc.) have also been evolving in a galaxy close to La France insoumise, not hiding their links with MP Danièle Obono or their ideological proximity with MEP Rima Hassan.
“It’s a spoil of war,” she even congratulated herself on Jean-Luc Mélenchon in a live on Twitch in 2021, delighted to see the one who was once “a kind of crazy secularist” say today “things he would never have said fifteen years ago”.
– Why has Houria Bouteldja’s invitation to the Fête de l’Humanité caused controversy?
Controversy Erupts as Houria Bouteldja, Accused of Anti-Semitism, is Invited to Debate Fighting Anti-Semitism
The Fête de l’Humanité, a left-wing cultural and political event, has sparked outrage by inviting Houria Bouteldja, the founder of the Party of the Indigenous People of the Republic (PIR), to participate in a debate titled “Fighting anti-Semitism: beyond its Zionist and Islamophobic instrumentalizations.” Bouteldja’s controversial views on Jews and her previous comments have raised eyebrows, with many accusing her of anti-Semitism.
The debate, set to take place in Plessis-Pâté (Essonne), has been met with widespread criticism on social media. Journalist Lucas Jakubowicz lamented, “Fighting anti-Semitism with Houria Bouteldja and the natives of the Republic. Who said that the left has lost its sense of humor?” Génération Charlie, a youth association linked to Charlie Hebdo, also criticized the invitation, saying, “What if we invited Patrick Poivre d’Arvor to fight against sexist and sexual violence?”
A History of Controversy
Bouteldja has a long history of making inflammatory comments about Jews. In 2013, she posed for a photograph next to a sign that read, ”Zionists to the Gulag!” Her book, “Whites, Jews and Us: towards a revolutionary politics of love,” has been criticized for its “racialist” and “identity drift” theses, as well as its obsession with the Israeli question.
In the book, Bouteldja writes, ”We do not recognize a Jew because he declares himself Jewish, but by his thirst to blend into whiteness,” insinuating that Jews have made a pact with whites. She also expresses a visceral reaction towards seeing children wearing kippahs, stating, “The worst thing is my look when I pass a child in the street wearing a kippah. That fleeting moment when I stop to look at him. The worst thing is the disappearance of my indifference towards you, the possible prelude to my inner ruin.”
Close Ties to LFI
Bouteldja’s ideology has also been criticized for its racism and misogyny. In 2016, Thomas Guénolé, a former member of La France Insoumise, documented her “racism” and misogyny, citing a passage from her book where she considered that “If a black woman is raped by a black man, it is understandable that she does not file a complaint to protect the black community.”
Bouteldja has also been accused of homophobia, stating, “As everyone knows, the tarlouze is not quite a man. Thus, the Arab who loses his virile power is no longer a man.” Despite her controversial views, she has received support from left-wing intellectuals such as François Bégaudeau and Annie Ernaux, who signed a platform to defend her in 2021.
A Question of Free Speech
The invitation to Bouteldja has raised questions about free speech and the limits of acceptable discourse. While some argue that her views are protected by freedom of expression, others believe that her words perpetuate harmful stereotypes and prejudices.
As the debate approaches, it remains to be seen how Bouteldja will address her critics and whether her views will be challenged by the organizers of the Fête de l’Humanité. One thing is certain – the controversy surrounding her invitation has sparked a necessary conversation about the boundaries of acceptable discourse and the dangers of hate speech.
Keywords: Houria Bouteldja, Fête de l’Humanité, anti-Semitism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, free speech, debate, controversy, left-wing ideology, Party
The ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism and racism in contemporary discourse. It raises important questions about the boundaries of free speech, the platforming of controversial figures, and the responsibility of cultural organizations to create inclusive spaces.
Controversy Surrounds Houria Bouteldja’s Invitation to Fête de l’Humanité: Debating Anti-Semitism and Racism
The organizers of the Fête de l’Humanité, a French cultural festival, have sparked controversy by inviting Houria Bouteldja, founder of the Party of the Indigenous People of the Republic (PIR), to participate in a debate on “Fighting anti-Semitism: beyond its Zionist and Islamophobic instrumentalizations.” Bouteldja’s past comments on Jews have been criticized as anti-Semitic, leading many to question the festival’s decision to invite her.
Houria Bouteldja’s Controversial Past
Bouteldja has been accused of anti-Semitism on multiple occasions. In 2013, she posed with a sign that read “Zionists to the Gulag!”, sparking widespread outrage. Her book, “Whites, Jews and Us: Towards a Revolutionary Politics of Love,” has been criticized for its perceived racialist and identity-driven ideology. In the book, she writes that Jews are not recognized as such because of their faith, but rather because of their “thirst to blend into whiteness.” She has also been accused of making homophobic and misogynistic comments.
Criticisms of Bouteldja’s Views on Jews
Bouteldja’s views on Jews have been widely criticized. In her book, she describes a scenario where she sees a child wearing a kippah and admits to feeling a fleeting moment of disgust. She has also insinuated that Jews have made a pact with whites, perpetuating racism. These comments have been deemed anti-Semitic and have sparked concern among Jewish communities.
Link to La France Insoumise (LFI)
Bouteldja’s ideology has also been criticized for its ties to La France Insoumise (LFI), a left-wing political party. In 2016, Thomas Guénolé, a former member of LFI, accused Bouteldja of racism and misogyny during a televised debate. Guénolé pointed to passages in Bouteldja’s book that suggested she condoned rape within the black community and perpetuated homophobic and misogynistic views.
Why Has Houria Bouteldja’s Invitation to the Fête de l’Humanité Caused Controversy?
The invitation to Bouteldja has sparked controversy because of her history of making anti-Semitic andracist comments. Many have questioned why the festival would invite someone with such a divisive and harmful ideology. The debate on anti-Semitism, in particular, has raised concerns that Bouteldja’s participation could perpetuate harmful stereotypes and ideologies.
What’s at Stake?
The controversy surrounding Bouteldja’s invitation highlights
