Kamel Daoud sentenced to three years in prison and fine for exploiting personal story in novel
via Algérie3603 min read
Franco-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud was sentenced in absentia on April 21 by the Falaoucen court in Oran to three years in prison and a fine of 5 million dinars. This decision follows a complaint filed by Saâda Arbane, who accused Daoud of using her personal story as a victim of terrorism in his novel "Houris." Arbane alleges that the author exploited her medical records, which his wife, a psychiatrist, accessed through her work in neurological services in Oran. The complaint also targets Daoud's wife for disclosing professional secrets concerning one of her patients. Arbane claims the novel incorporates key elements of her life, including the extermination of her family, causing her deep trauma and violating her dignity and privacy. Kamel Daoud responded to the judgment on his personal page, stating that the decision falls under the application of laws related to national reconciliation and national tragedy. He views the conviction as an attempt to silence his work and prevent him from addressing sensitive topics related to Algeria's history. The case sparked controversy last year, particularly after Daoud received the Goncourt Prize in France for the novel. Arbane highlighted the striking similarity between her childhood experiences, marked by her family's extermination, and the plot of the book, which is central to the accusation against the author.
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