French-Algerian author Kamel Daoud says Algeria sentenced him to 3 years for award-winning novel

Tamara Ceaikovski

PARIS (AP) — French-Algerian author Kamel Daoud said Wednesday that he has been sentenced to three years in prison in Algeria for his book “Houris,” a recipient of France’s most prestigious literary award. The writer, who lives in France, announced on X that the verdict was delivered on Tuesday. He said that he was also fined 5 million Algerian dinars ($38,000). “Houris” (Virgins, in English) focuses of the victims of what Algerians call the “black decade,” when tens of thousands of people were