Saada Arbane, a survivor of Algeria's civil war, has filed a lawsuit against Kamel Daoud, alleging he used her life story without consent in his prize-winning novel, raising issues of literary ethics and national sensitivity.
Controversy Erupts as Algerian Author Kamel Daoud Faces Lawsuit Over Allegations of Story Theft
Controversy Erupts as Algerian Author Kamel Daoud Faces Lawsuit Over Allegations of Story Theft
Algerian author Kamel Daoud's newly awarded Goncourt prize novel, "Houris," is under scrutiny as a woman claims the heroine's story mirrors her traumatic past.
In a significant legal battle, Kamel Daoud, the recent recipient of France's prestigious Goncourt prize for his novel "Houris," is being sued in Algeria over allegations of appropriating the personal narrative of Saada Arbane, a survivor of the country’s devastating civil war. The controversy sheds light on critical issues related to literary ethics, exploitation, and national sensitivity.
Saada Arbane, who survived a brutal Islamist militant attack that claimed the lives of her family members, claims that the character of Fajr in "Houris" closely resembles her actual experiences, from her tragic injuries to intimate details about her life. Fajr's experiences in the book, including a speaking tube she uses to communicate — a result of her injuries — along with deeper nuances like her relationships and personal struggles, mirror those recounted by Arbane during therapy sessions with Daoud’s wife, Aicha Dahdouh.
Arbane alleges she had previously refused to allow Daoud to use her story, stating, “It’s my life. It’s my past. He had no right to chuck me out like that.” The lawsuits filed against the couple assert breaches of medical confidentiality and cite a legal clause protecting the narrative of Algeria’s civil war, prohibiting the exploitation of its traumatic events for artistic gain.
The timing of the lawsuits, which were revealed weeks after Daoud's book won the Goncourt prize, raises questions about the motivations and implications behind the legal actions. Daoud, who now resides in Paris and has become a polarizing figure in Algeria, has not publicly responded to the allegations yet.
The row over "Houris" exists amid heightened tension between Algeria and France, especially following recent remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Western Sahara. Many Algerians perceive the awarding of the Goncourt prize to Daoud as politically charged rather than purely literary, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing disputes between the countries.
While Daoud's publisher, Antoine Gallimard, downplayed the lawsuit, calling it a "violent defamation campaign," the narrative propelling the legal actions reveals a broader tension concerning Algeria's cultural legacy and the sensitive nature of its civil war, as well as raising poignant questions about authorship, consent, and the ethical boundaries of storytelling amidst a nation still healing from deep-seated trauma.
The situation escalated further with the reported disappearance of fellow Algerian writer Boualel Sansal, who is known for his critical stance against the Algerian regime and has been active in highlighting many societal issues within the country. His case, alongside Daoud's, points to the precarious balance artists must navigate in their homeland, especially when grappling with themes of suffering and memory.
