A woman named Saada Arbane is taking legal action against Algerian author Kamel Daoud, alleging that he utilized her traumatic experiences in his award-winning novel "Houris." Arbane, who survived a horrific militant attack in her youth, asserts that the heroine of the book mirrors her life without her consent.
Patient Sues Author Kamel Daoud Over Alleged Use of Personal Trauma in Award-Winning Novel
Patient Sues Author Kamel Daoud Over Alleged Use of Personal Trauma in Award-Winning Novel
A woman claims Kamel Daoud based his character in "Houris" on her life story after consultations with his wife.
Kamel Daoud, recently honored with France's prestigious Goncourt prize for his novel "Houris," which explores Algeria's tumultuous civil war, has landed in hot water over claims from a woman who survived a massacre during this period. Saada Arbane, the claimant, has publicly accused Daoud of using her personal narrative as inspiration for the book's protagonist, Fajr, whose experiences closely resemble her own.
According to Arbane, she underwent psychiatric treatment with Daoud's future wife from 2015 onwards, during which she shared numerous details about her traumatic past, including her throat being cut during an Islamist attack that led to her family's death. Arbane contends that various aspects of the character Fajr's life—such as her speaking tube, scars, and tattoos—were derived from her own story, including Fajr's complicated relationship with her mother and her experiences regarding abortion.
Saada Arbane had initially agreed to meet Kamel Daoud three years ago but later declined when he sought permission to use her story for his novel. "It’s my life. It’s my past. He had no right to chuck me out like that," she expressed during an appearance on Algeria One television.
Two lawsuits against Daoud and his wife have been lodged in Algeria, one citing confidentiality breaches concerning medical information, while the other references a law prohibiting the exploitation of national tragedy wounds. This legislation significantly restricts the freedom to discuss the civil war, contributing to the prohibition of Daoud's novel in Algeria, as well as restrictions on his French publishing house, Gallimard, during the Algiers book fair.
Despite his recognition with the Goncourt prize, Daoud remains a controversial figure in Algeria, where some accuse him of betraying his homeland in favor of French recognition. Daoud, now living in Paris, has not publicly responded to the ongoing legal matter, although attempts to contact him for comment were made by the BBC.
Antoine Gallimard of his publishing firm defended Daoud, asserting that he is the target of a coordinated defamation campaign by certain media channels aligned with the Algerian government. He emphasized that although "Houris" draws inspiration from Algeria's tragic history, its characters and narrative are purely fictional.
The lawsuits have emerged amidst increasing tensions between Algeria and France, particularly after President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. In a related matter, fellow Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has reportedly gone missing following his return to Algeria, raising concerns for his safety due to his critical stance on the Algerian regime and Islamism.
