The writer Kamel Daoud) is going through a troubled period. On Wednesday, May 7, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this information. Indeed, the Algerian judiciary 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, recalling that Daoud is "a recognized and respected author."
This new legal episode comes after the writer won the Prix Goncourt in November 2024 for Houris. This poignant novel has been praised by critics. Indeed, it delves into the painful memories of the Algerian civil war, nicknamed the "black decade." The literary distinction has increased Kamel Daoud‘s notoriety. However, it has reignited tensions around his freedom of speech.
Origins of the Case and Accusations Made
The case originates from a complaint filed by Saâda Arbane, a survivor of an Islamist massacre that occurred in 1997 in the Blida region. Indeed, she accuses Kamel Daoud and his wife, psychiatrist Aïcha Dahdouh, of using her personal confidences without consent to create the main character of Houris.
Thus, as early as February 2025, Saâda Arbane summoned the writer before the Paris judicial court for invasion of privacy and human dignity, claiming 200,000 euros in damages. She asserts that several passages of the novel faithfully reproduce stories she had shared anonymously.
Moreover, the National Organization of Victims of Terrorism in Algeria has also taken legal action. This official structure was created in the early 2000s. It denounces the abusive use of personal stories related to the traumas of the war. Additionally, it emphasizes the urgency of protecting the collective memory of the victims.
An Assumed Political Dimension
According to the writer’s lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, these legal proceedings are part of "a set of maneuvers to silence a free and critical writer." She claims that Houris reveals sensitive episodes of Algerian history, including mass crimes attributed to both armed Islamist groups and security forces.
Thus, Kamel Daoud is part of an engaged literary tradition, recalling the courageous stances of writers like Boualem Sansal or Rachid Boudjedra. The case arises in a deteriorated context between Algiers and Paris, marked by the incarceration in March 2025 of Boualem Sansal, 80 years old, prosecuted for "undermining national unity."
The current political climate in Algeria prohibits any criticism of the past. Thus, any literary exploration of the conflict becomes highly inflammatory. The 2005 civil concord law imposes a duty of silence on the violence of the 1990s. Indeed, this is done in the name of national reconciliation.
The Writer’s Defense Against the Accusations
As early as December 2024, Kamel Daoud publicly stated on France Inter that Houris is a work of fiction. It is nourished by a collection of testimonies, archives, and historical research. He specified on Europe 1 that "the novel does not tell the life" of Saâda Arbane, despite certain analogies.
Moreover, 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 closely linked to the Algerian authorities.
Finally, his lawyers have filed a request with Interpol to contest the dissemination of the arrest warrants. They argue their "manifestly abusive and political 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 distinction between respect for privacy and artistic freedom. Indeed, it is crucial to find a balance between these two fundamental rights. The court will notably have to determine whether the use of biographical elements, even transfigured by fiction, can constitute a civil fault.
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 wishes to address the buried pains of his native country. Indeed, he recently reminded during a conference at Sciences Po Paris: "Writing is a freedom or it is nothing."