Algerian Author Faces Lawsuit Over Allegations of Story Theft

Saada Arbane has filed a lawsuit against Kamel Daoud, alleging that his award-winning novel "Houris" is based on her traumatic experiences during Algeria's civil war, raising questions about intellectual property and the ethics of representation in literature.

A legal battle has erupted in Algeria involving Kamel Daoud, the recipient of the prestigious Goncourt prize this year, whose novel "Houris" reflects on the harrowing events of Algeria’s civil war in the 1990s. Saada Arbane, a survivor of the violent conflicts that led to the deaths of up to 200,000 people, has publicly claimed that the protagonist Fajr is modeled after her own life story. During a recent television appearance, Arbane detailed her traumatic past, including the brutal attack that left her with a speaking tube after her throat was cut by Islamist militants.

She recounted her sessions with Daoud’s partner, Aicha Dahdouh, during which she purportedly shared personal details that later appeared in the book. Among the similarities cited were Fajr’s physical scars and relationships that mirrored Arbane's own experiences, including her struggles with her mother and her thoughts about abortion.

Arbane stated that she declined Daoud's invitation for a meeting three years ago when she learned he wanted to use her story. She expressed feelings of betrayal, stating, “It’s my life. It’s my past. He had no right to chuck me out like that,” during her interview on Algeria One TV.

This controversy has prompted Arbane to file two lawsuits against Daoud and Dahdouh. One lawsuit cites breaches of medical confidentiality, while the other invokes a law against exploiting the traumas from Algeria’s civil war. This "reconciliation" law makes it a crime to exploit the historical scars of national conflict, thus complicating the public discourse surrounding the civil war and restricting the publication of related works.

Daoud, who has lived in France since 2020, has not publicly responded to the allegations. His publisher, Gallimard, characterized the lawsuits as an orchestrated attack against the author, insisting that while "Houris" draws upon historical tragedy, the characters and plot are works of fiction.

Lawyer Fatima Benbraham announced the lawsuits, claiming the plaintiffs delayed their revelation to avoid influencing Daoud's Goncourt nomination. This controversy surfaces amid deteriorating relations between Algeria and France, exacerbated by political tensions surrounding territorial disputes.

As the debate continues, it bears significant implications for artistic expression and the responsibilities of authors to their subjects. Meanwhile, fellow Algerian writer Boualel Sansal remains unaccounted for after returning to Algeria, sparking concerns about government repression of dissenting literary voices.