Exploring the contentious situation of Raphaël Enthoven, who was suspended and later reinstated in a literary event, following his online comments regarding Gaza
In the cultural heart of Besançon, France, a storm of controversy has erupted over the reinstatement of author Raphaël Enthoven to the Livres dans la Boucle literature festival.
Early September saw communist councilors of the Besançon municipal team expressing outrage at Enthoven's invitation, following his strong criticisms about media coverage of the war in Gaza on social network X on August 15, 16, and 17. Enthoven had estimated that there were no journalists in Gaza, only killers, fighters, or hostage-takers with a press card, and claimed that there were dozens of fake journalists in Gaza who were in reality Hamas fighters.
These remarks sparked a wave of protests from local political figures and literary personalities. The local PCF protested against Enthoven's statements, which they believed gave carte blanche to the Israeli army to assassinate journalists. David Foenkinos, honorary president, and Anne Goscinny, who was to host a dictation, both linked their visits to the reinstatement of Raphaël Enthoven, stating that they would not go until Enthoven was reinstated in the negotiation.
On September 4, the Grand Besançon metropolis, which is also the event's organizer, announced that it had requested the deprogramming of Enthoven. P.O.L., the publishing house that publishes Emmanuel Carrère's books, also announced that they would not attend the Livres dans la boucle salon due to the censorship of Raphaël Enthoven.
However, less than an hour after the announcement of Enthoven's reinstatement, Enthoven announced that he would indeed go to Besançon. In her press release, Anne Vignot, the mayor of Besançon and president of the metropolitan area, stated that her goal is to maintain Livres dans la boucle in good conditions and that security will be adapted. Anne Vignot also assured that her intention was never to censor Raphaël Enthoven and that she regrets the interpretation of her actions as such.
The French far-right party Rassemblement National opposed the invitation of essayist Raphaël Enthoven to the Livres dans la boucle literature festival, citing his controversial statements and ideological disagreements. Some political figures, such as LR councilor Ludovic Fagaut and RN candidate for the municipal elections, Jacques Ricciardetti, denounced ideological censorship in response to Enthoven's cancellation.
The controversy surrounding Enthoven's reinstatement comes amidst growing concern for the safety of journalists in the Gaza Strip. Reporters Without Borders denounced the massacre within the profession in the Gaza Strip two weeks later. Jacques Expert, a thriller writer, has decided to withdraw from the Livres dans la boucle salon in response to the cancellation of Raphaël Enthoven.
As the festival approaches, the debate around freedom of speech, censorship, and safety of journalists continues to rage, casting a shadow over the literary event.
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