Kamel Daoud Faces Allegations of Exploiting Survivor's Story in Goncourt-Winning Novel

The acclaimed author is accused of using a real-life victim's traumatic experiences in his fictional work without consent.

Saâda Arbane, a survivor of Algeria's 'decade of darkness,' claims Kamel Daoud's novel 'Houris' mirrors her personal trauma.
Arbane alleges that Daoud's wife, her former psychiatrist, violated confidentiality by sharing her story.
The novel's protagonist shares striking similarities with Arbane, including physical and emotional scars from a failed execution.
Gallimard, Daoud's publisher, dismisses the accusations as defamatory, asserting the work's fictional nature.
Legal action may be pursued against Daoud's wife for breach of professional secrecy, but not against Daoud himself.