Algerian author Kamel Daoud is being sued by a woman who claims her life story inspired the protagonist of his Goncourt prize-winning novel, "Houris", raising controversies surrounding consent and representation in literature.
Writer Faces Lawsuit from Alleged Real-Life Inspiration for Prize-Winning Novel
Writer Faces Lawsuit from Alleged Real-Life Inspiration for Prize-Winning Novel
Kamel Daoud allegedly based his novel's heroine on a woman without her consent, sparking a legal battle.
In a dramatic twist following the recent recognition of his literary work, Kamel Daoud is currently embroiled in legal issues in Algeria, where he faces lawsuits over allegations that he appropriated the life experiences of Saada Arbane, a woman who survived a brutal attack during the Algerian civil war in the 1990s. Arbane asserts that the character Fajr from Daoud's novel parallels her own traumatic experiences, including the use of a speaking tube after her throat was cut during an Islamist militant assault that claimed the lives of her family.
During her media appearance, Arbane described her interactions with Aicha Dahdouh, Daoud's future wife, revealing that personal details she shared in therapy sessions were mirrored in Fajr’s narrative. She recounted her refusal to provide consent for Daoud to use her story, criticizing him for using her life without permission. The lawsuits hinge on medical confidentiality violations and the utilization of personal trauma in creative works without consent, invoked by laws governing the treatment of civil war narratives in Algeria.
Kamel Daoud, who relocated to Paris in 2020 and acquired French citizenship, is a polarizing figure in Algerian literature, facing accusations of betrayal towards his homeland. Although the novel has received international acclaim, including the prestigious Goncourt prize, it has been banned in Algeria, igniting discussions about censorship and rights within the literary field.
Daoud has not publicly addressed the allegations, but his publisher contends that his work is entirely fictional, inspired by the magnitude of Algerian history yet not derived from specific real-life accounts. This development occurs amid escalating tensions between Algeria and France, linking the dialogue of literature to broader geopolitical sentiments fluctuating in the region. Coinciding with these events, acclaimed author Boualel Sansal has reportedly gone missing in Algeria, which has raised additional concerns regarding the safety of writers critical of the government.
During her media appearance, Arbane described her interactions with Aicha Dahdouh, Daoud's future wife, revealing that personal details she shared in therapy sessions were mirrored in Fajr’s narrative. She recounted her refusal to provide consent for Daoud to use her story, criticizing him for using her life without permission. The lawsuits hinge on medical confidentiality violations and the utilization of personal trauma in creative works without consent, invoked by laws governing the treatment of civil war narratives in Algeria.
Kamel Daoud, who relocated to Paris in 2020 and acquired French citizenship, is a polarizing figure in Algerian literature, facing accusations of betrayal towards his homeland. Although the novel has received international acclaim, including the prestigious Goncourt prize, it has been banned in Algeria, igniting discussions about censorship and rights within the literary field.
Daoud has not publicly addressed the allegations, but his publisher contends that his work is entirely fictional, inspired by the magnitude of Algerian history yet not derived from specific real-life accounts. This development occurs amid escalating tensions between Algeria and France, linking the dialogue of literature to broader geopolitical sentiments fluctuating in the region. Coinciding with these events, acclaimed author Boualel Sansal has reportedly gone missing in Algeria, which has raised additional concerns regarding the safety of writers critical of the government.
