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Writer Kamel Daoud is going through a turbulent period. On Wednesday, May 7, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs confirmed the information. In fact, Algerian justice had issued two international arrest warrants against him. Christophe Lemoine, spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay, emphasized the importance France places on freedom of expression, noting that Daoud is "a recognized and respected author."
This new legal episode comes after the writer won the Goncourt Prize in November 2024 for Houris. This moving novel was praised by critics. In fact, it delves into the painful memories of the Algerian civil war, nicknamed the "Black Decade." The literary award boosted Kamel Daoud‘s profile. However, it reignited tensions over his freedom of speech.
Origins of the Case and Charges Brought
The case stems from a complaint filed by Saâda Arbane, a survivor of an Islamist massacre that took place in 1997 in the Blida region. In fact, she accuses Kamel Daoud and his wife, psychiatrist Aïcha Dahdouh, of using her personal confidences without consent to create the main character in Houris.
Thus, as early as February 2025, Saâda Arbane took the writer to the Paris Judicial Court for invasion of privacy and human dignity, claiming €200,000 in damages. She says several passages in the novel closely reproduce accounts she had shared anonymously.
In addition, the National Organization of Terrorism Victims in Algeria has also taken the matter to court. This official body was created in the early 2000s. It denounces the abusive use of personal stories linked to the trauma of war. It also stresses the urgency of protecting the victims’ collective memory.
A Deliberately Political Dimension
According to the writer’s lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, these legal proceedings are part of "a series of maneuvers to silence a free and critical writer." She says that Houris reveals sensitive episodes of Algerian history, including mass crimes attributed both to armed Islamist groups and to security forces.
Thus, Kamel Daoud fits into a tradition of engaged literature, echoing the courageous stances of writers such as Boualem Sansal or Rachid Boudjedra. The case comes amid worsening relations between Algiers and Paris, marked by the March 2025 imprisonment of Boualem Sansal, 80, prosecuted for "undermining national unity."
The current political climate in Algeria leaves no room for criticism of the past. Thus, any literary exploration of the conflict becomes highly explosive. The 2005 Civil Concord law imposes a duty of silence regarding the violence of the 1990s. In fact, this is done in the name of national reconciliation.
The Writer’s Defense Against the Accusations
As early as December 2024, Kamel Daoud stated publicly on France Inter that Houris is a work of fiction. It is informed by a body of testimony, archives, and historical research. He said on Europe 1 that "the novel does not tell Saâda Arbane’s life," despite some similarities.
In addition, he recalls that the tragedy of an era cannot belong to a single individual. It is marked by 60,000 to 150,000 deaths between 1992 and 2002, according to estimates. He denounces an "orchestrated campaign" against him, notably through media outlets closely tied to the Algerian government.
Finally, his lawyers have filed a request with Interpol to challenge the circulation of the arrest warrants. They argue that they are "manifestly abusive and political" in nature. The international organization has not yet issued a red notice to date.
A Trial With Major Implications
The first procedural hearing in Paris is set for September 2025. It will have to lay the groundwork for a fine line between respect for privacy and artistic freedom. In fact, it is crucial to strike a balance between these two fundamental rights. The court will notably have to determine whether the use of biographical elements, even transformed by fiction, can constitute civil wrongdoing.
In this tense context, Kamel Daoud remains true to his literary commitment. Thus, despite the legal and political risks, he claims his right to explore through fiction. He wants to address the buried pain of his homeland. In fact, he recently reminded an audience at Sciences Po Paris: "Writing is freedom, or it is nothing."