Algeria Publisher Shuts Down Amid Book Controversy
-
Loading... - Layla Mido
- 17 Jul 2024
- 63 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
An Algerian publishing house, MIM Edition, announced on Tuesday its immediate closure following a social media uproar over an award-winning novel's controversial themes. The publisher took to Facebook to declare, "We announce that MIM Edition has closed its doors effective immediately in the face of the storm and fire."
The novel in question, "Houaria" by Inaam Bayoud, has ignited significant backlash on social media, with critics accusing it of containing sexual innuendo and using “coarse terms in Darija,” the Algerian dialect of Arabic. The controversy erupted just a week after "Houaria" was awarded the prestigious Assia Djebar Grand Prize, named in honor of the esteemed Algerian literary figure who passed away in 2015.
Amina Belaala, a jury member of the Assia Djebar Grand Prize, defended the novel, stating, "While reading the novel, we were no less concerned about values than those who claim to defend them without having read it. We did not see in those few words any affront to morality, religion or modesty."
Literary critic Faycal Metaoui pointed out a perceived double standard in Algerian society regarding female writers. "The author and the publisher are women. If it were written by a man, we would not have seen all this," he told AFP, highlighting the gender bias that female authors face.
The closure of MIM Edition underscores the intense societal pressures and challenges faced by literary publishers and writers in Algeria, especially those addressing sensitive or taboo subjects. This incident raises broader questions about freedom of expression and the cultural dynamics that shape the reception of literary works in the country.
