Kamel Daoud, the winner of this year's prestigious Goncourt prize, is making headlines for more than just his literary success. The author of "Houris," which dives into the tragic events of Algeria's 1990s civil war, now faces a lawsuit from Saada Arbane, a survivor of mass violence during that period. Arbane claims that Daoud's heroine, Fajr, mirrors her own harrowing experiences—having survived an attack that killed most of her family and altered her ability to communicate.
During sessions with Daoud's future wife, Aicha Dahdouh, Arbane alleges her personal details informed the novel's plot, including scars and her desire for an abortion. She asserts that despite refusing Daoud's request to share her story, he went ahead and used it without consent.
Arbane has filed two lawsuits, emphasizing a breach of medical confidentiality and the prohibition against exploitation of national trauma based on a law post-civil war. These allegations come amid heightened tensions between Algeria and France, particularly with Daoud's move to Paris and prior political controversies. While he has yet to respond, his French publisher claims the case against him reflects a politically charged campaign rather than legitimate grievances.
As Daoud's novel garners international recognition, the underlying conflict raises questions about the ethics of storytelling in the context of personal and collective suffering in Algeria.
