Algeria arrest warrants for writer Kamel Daoud

Algeria has issued two international arrest warrants for Franco-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud, the French Foreign
Ministry announced, confirming that it had been informed of the court decision.

Daoud, the winner of the 2024 Prix Goncourt was the subject of  complaints filed in Algeria.

The first complaint was filed by Saada Arbane, a survivor of the Algerian civil war, who accuses the writer and his psychiatrist wife, Aicha Dahdouh, of using her personal story without her consent to write his novel, Houris.

The second complaint was filed by the National Organisation for Victims of Terrorism, which accuses the author of distorting the events of the Black Decade in his book.

According to Saada Arbane, several elements of her life were reflected in the novel’s main character, Dawn, including an attempted throat-slitting, a distinctive tattoo, and personal details about her profession as a hairdresser.

These accusations are based on the fact that the writer and his wife knew intimate aspects of her life, shared during therapy sessions.

Legal proceedings in France have also been initiated for invasion of privacy. Saada Arbane is seeking €200,000 in damages, and a first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Paris.

In response to these accusations, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its support for Kamel Daoud, calling him a “recognised and respected author,” while reaffirming the importance of freedom of expression.

This case raises questions about the boundaries between literary inspiration and respect for privacy.
SL/Sf/ac/fss/as/APA