The Franco-Algerian author Kamel Daoud, as well as his wife, a psychiatrist, are the subject of two complaints in Algeria, filed at the Oran court. The writer, Goncourt Prize 2024, and his wife, are accused of having used the story of a patient survivor of a terrorist attack in the 1990s in Algeria for the writing of the novel Houris.
During an interview broadcast Friday, November 15 on the Algerian channel One TV, Saâda Arbane accused Kamel Daoud of having inspired the story of his novel, Houris, from his own story, without having his authorization.
Saâda Arbane miraculously survived a violent attack by a terrorist group which decimated her entire family during the dark decade, in a small village of Tiaret. Several years later, around 2015, she was followed by a psychiatrist, who was none other than the wife of Kamel Daoud.
The complaints against the Daoud couple were filed last August
But when the book Houris appeared, Saâda Arbane noticed great similarities between the main character, Aube, and her own story which she wanted to keep secret.
This Wednesday, November 20, lawyer Fatima Benbraham revealed that two complaints were filed against Kamel Daoud and his wife Aicha Dehdouh at the Oran court, reports the newspaper Le Figaro, citing AFP. The Daoud couple are accused of having revealed and used the story of a patient to write the novel Houris.
The complaints were filed last August, a few days after the novel’s release. “ As soon as the book was published, we filed two complaints against Kamel Daoud and his wife Aicha Dehdouh, the psychiatrist who treated the victim Saâda Arbane “, indicated the lawyer.
According to her, the first complaint “ was filed on behalf of the National Organization for Victims of Terrorism » and the second “ on behalf of the victim », or the survivor of the massacre, Saâda Arbane.
« Violation » medical confidentiality and “ defamation » victims of terrorism
The lawyer explained that the filing of these complaints dates back to last August, well before the award of the Goncourt Prize to Kamel Daoud. “ We did not want to talk about it, so that it would not be said that we wanted to disrupt the author’s nomination for the prize “, she emphasized.
Furthermore, Me Fatima Benbraham adds that one of the complaints concerns “ violation of medical confidentiality “, because the author’s wife, Saâda Arbane’s psychiatrist, gave him all of her patient’s medical files.
The other complaint concerns “ defamation of victims of terrorism and violation of the national reconciliation law », Further clarified the lawyer.
As a reminder, Kamel Daoud Gallimard’s publishing house reacted on Monday, November 18, to defend the author of Houris. “ If Houris is inspired by tragic events that occurred in Algeria during the civil war of the 1990s, its plot, its characters and its heroine are purely fictional. », indicated Antoine Gallimard.
« Since the publication of his novel, Kamel Daoud has been the subject of violent defamatory campaigns orchestrated by certain media close to a regime whose nature is well known. “, he added.
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Houris: serious accusations against Kamel Daoud in Algeria
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