In the recent literary controversy, Algerian author Kamel Daoud is being sued over accusations that he misappropriated the life story of Saada Arbane, a patient of his psychiatrist wife, Aicha Dahdouh. Daoud, who recently won France's prestigious Goncourt prize for his novel "Houris," a poignant exploration of Algeria’s devastating 1990s civil war, is facing serious allegations from Arbane, who contends that the book’s heroine, Fajr, mirrors her traumatic past.
Saada Arbane endured horrific violence during a militant attack that resulted in the deaths of her family members and left her with lasting physical scars. She uses a speaking tube to communicate, a detail that she claims Daoud incorporated into his fictional character without permission. Arbane recounted that after several therapy sessions beginning in 2015, she was approached by Daoud for a meeting to discuss using her story. However, she declined when he inquired about the potential for her life experiences to serve as his book's foundation.
In her televised statements, Arbane emphasized that the intricacies of Fajr's narrative—including her relationship with her mother and the character's desire for an abortion—reflect details from her own experiences divulged during therapy sessions. Legal actions have emerged based on two key arguments: one addressing breaches of medical confidentiality and another targeting an Algerian law that prohibits the exploitation of civil war wounds for personal or creative gain.
Despite Daoud's recent recognition in France, the situation has galvanized a backlash in Algeria. Critics allege that he has betrayed his homeland, particularly as the nation grapples with the lingering effects of its civil unrest. Specifically, the ongoing dispute between Algeria and France has intensified in recent weeks, following French President Emmanuel Macron's controversial remarks on Western Sahara, further complicating the public's reception of Daoud's work.
As tensions mount, literary circles are concerned about the implications for freedom of expression in Algeria. Daoud has yet to publicly respond to the ongoing lawsuits, while his publisher, Antoine Gallimard, defended the author against allegations of defamation, insisting that while the novel is steeped in the tragedy of Algeria's past, its characters are entirely fictional.
In a related development, noted Algerian writer Boualel Sansal has gone missing after returning to Algeria, raising alarm among supporters and advocates for freedom of speech in the region. As literary and social concerns continue to overlap, the outcome of Daoud's legal battles remains pending, casting a shadow over the celebration of his recent literary achievements.
