In brief
Saada Arbane argues that her life’s experiences are reflected in Daoud's fictional heroine, leading to legal action against him and his wife.
In a controversial twist, Kamel Daoud, the winner of France's prestigious Goncourt prize, has been sued in Algeria by Saada Arbane, who asserts that his recently published novel, "Houris," is based on her life story without consent. Daoud's novel depicts the brutal realities of Algeria's 1990s civil war, during which countless lives were lost.Arbane, a massacre survivor who endured horrific injuries, made her allegations public on Algerian television. She claims many aspects of the character Fajr mirror her own experiences, including the use of a speaking tube and significant details about her past that she shared during therapy sessions with Daoud’s wife.After declining Daoud's invitation to collaborate on a book years ago, Arbane took legal action, citing violations of medical confidentiality and laws against exploiting the traumas of Algeria’s civil strife. Daoud, now residing in France, has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit. His publisher, however, has defended him, claiming that the novel's characters and plot are entirely fictional.The timing of the legal battle raises questions amidst heightened tensions between Algeria and France, sparked by recent political developments. Meanwhile, concerns are also growing for fellow Algerian author Boualem Sansal, who recently went missing after returning to Algeria, highlighting the risks faced by writers critical of the regime.
