Algerian publisher abruptly shuts down after backlash over award-winning book

A week after the controversial novel ”Houaria” won a prestigious literary award in Algeria, its publisher, MIM Edition,  abruptly decided to shut down operations.

“We announce that MIM Edition has closed its doors effective immediately in the face of the storm and fire,” the publisher posted on Facebook, according to Arabnews.

The novel, penned by Inaam Bayoud, faced significant backlash on social media. Critics accused the book of being indecent due to its use of sexual innuendos and “coarse terms in Darija”, an Algerian Arabic dialect.

Members of the Assia Djebar Grand Prize jury, which awarded the novel, defended their choice against the accusations. The award is given to honor the Algerian literary giant who died in 2015.

“While reading the novel, we were no less concerned about values than those who claim to defend them without having read it,” said Amina Belaala, a jury member.

According to Arabnews, some literary figures, including Faycal Metaoui, believe that Algerian female writers face stricter moral scrutiny than their male counterparts.

“The author and the publisher are women. If it were written by a man, we would not have seen all this,” he told AFP.