Houria Bouteldja, a French-Algerian “decolonial advocate” and novelist, spoke at Yale on April 6 for the purpose of the Decolonizing Europe Lecture Series.
Community members reacted negatively to Bouteldja’s lecture which allegedly included comments that justified the murders of Jews and Israelis. Many listeners accused the activist of prejudice and calling out remarks they perceived as homophobic and antisemitic.
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Who is Houria Bouteldja?
French-Algerian author and political activist, Houria Bouteldja, is well-known for her contributions to the anti-racist and anti-colonial campaigns. Her strong opinions on racial, colonial, and Islamophobic problems have made her a divisive figure in French politics.
Bouteldja’s experiences as a French-Algerian woman and her conviction that drastic change is necessary for French society have influenced her political beliefs. She has called for a new kind of politics that takes into consideration the experiences of people of color and other marginalized groups and has been a prominent critic of what she perceives to be the prevalent racism and Islamophobia in French culture.
Although many people find her offensive and rude, Bouteldja contends that it is a valid way for people of color in France to express their outrage and fury at the racism and prejudice they experience. Her opinions on Zionism and Israel have also drawn criticism, with some calling them anti-Semitic.
Despite her divisive opinions, Bouteldja has received support from people who regard her as a strong advocate for the underprivileged and oppressed. Her works include “Les Blancs, les Juifs et nous” (Whites, Jews, and Us), which examines racial and identity concerns in modern France. She has been quoted as saying, ‘killing an Israeli is killing two birds with one stone, eliminating in one go oppressor and oppressed.’
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The backlash was further brought on by Yale University’s decision to welcome Bouteldja for a speech on the second night of Passover, making it extremely difficult for Jews to attend, contest her assertions, and pose critical queries.
