Kamel Daoud Sentenced to Three Years for His Novel 'Houris'
French-Algerian author Kamel Daoud has been sentenced to three years in prison for his novel 'Houris', which addresses the Algerian civil war, raising concerns about literary freedom.
Kamel Daoud, the French-Algerian author, has been handed a three-year prison sentence related to his novel 'Houris'. This ruling highlights the increasing pressures faced by writers in Algeria.
The novel revisits the Algerian civil war, a conflict that resulted in significant loss of life, and has drawn criticism from various quarters. Daoud's sentence appears to stem from a complaint lodged by the National Organization of Victims of Terrorism.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges for authors in the region, particularly regarding freedom of expression and the risks associated with addressing sensitive historical topics.
Updates
Update at 16:53 UTC on 2026-04-22
Le Monde reported His 2024 book explores the Algerian civil war that killed 200,000 people between 1992 and 2002. Speaking to Le Monde, Daoud confirmed that the sentence was solely related to a complaint from the National Organization of Victims of Terrorism.
Sources: Le Monde