The French festival Actoral, which is dedicated to contemporary writing and emerging artists, has had its funding blocked by the Department of Bouches-du-Rhône. The decision was made after pressure from the far-right National Rally (RN) party, who objected to the presence of Louisa Yousfi, a journalist and essayist of Algerian origin, at the festival. Yousfi was scheduled to present her book "La grande méthode" at the festival on October 6.
The controversy surrounding Yousfi began in early September, when she made comments in a podcast that were misinterpreted by the far-right as being racist against white people. Yousfi had stated that whites "are not attached to what is called generic humanity," a concept she borrowed from Karl Marx. However, her comments were manipulated to make it seem like she said that whites are not part of humanity, sparking a hate campaign against her.
The RN party took up the issue, with deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy and the party's group in the departmental council calling for the withdrawal of the festival's funding. The department's president, in a statement, said that she had asked for the immediate withdrawal of the subsidy after receiving complaints about Yousfi's comments. The festival's organizers have been asked to explain their programming and the department has said that no funding decision will be made until they respond.
The RN party has claimed a "strong symbolic victory" in blocking the funding, while Yousfi's publisher, La fabrique, has denounced the move as an attempt to "silence an anti-racist voice." Yousfi's book, "La grande méthode," tells the story of a family of Algerian origin who travel to Algeria to bury their father. The festival, Actoral, is a significant event that showcases contemporary writing and emerging artists.
The Department of Bouches-du-Rhône had initially planned to provide a subsidy of 90,000 euros to the festival. However, this has been put on hold pending the outcome of the investigation into Yousfi's comments. The festival's organizers have not commented on the situation, but it is understood that they are seeking to find alternative funding sources.
The controversy has sparked a wider debate about free speech and the role of the far-right in France. Yousfi's supporters argue that she is being unfairly targeted and that her comments were taken out of context. The incident has also raised questions about the relationship between France and its diaspora communities, particularly those of Algerian origin.
The festival is set to take place on October 6, despite the funding being blocked. It is unclear whether Yousfi will still be able to present her book at the event. The situation is being closely watched by free speech advocates and those interested in the intersection of politics and culture in France.
Key points
- The French far-right has been accused of attempting to silence Louisa Yousfi, a writer of Algerian origin, over her comments on racism.
- The Department of Bouches-du-Rhône has blocked funding for the Actoral festival due to Yousfi's presence.
- The incident has sparked a wider debate about free speech and the role of the far-right in France.
