Police Raid at Book Presentation in Algeria
A police raid occurred at a bookstore in Béjaïa, eastern Algeria, during the presentation of a book by French writer Dominique Martre. The police arrested Martre, her publisher Arezki Ait-Larbi, and other participants, before releasing them a few hours later. The reasons for the raid remain unclear.
The Book: 'Sharing Kabylie, in the Intimacy of Women'
The book 'Sharing Kabylie, in the Intimacy of Women' is a memoir by Dominique Martre, detailing her experiences in a Kabylie village in the 1970s. The book highlights the lives and experiences of women in this predominantly Amazigh region in northern Algeria. Despite its availability in bookstores across Algeria, the presentation in Béjaïa faced unexpected police intervention.
History of Censorship
The Koukou publishing house, run by Arezki Ait-Larbi, has faced censorship issues in Algeria before. In 2022, twelve of its books, mainly on political topics, were banned at Algeria's main book fair, SILA. The recent raid adds to the concerns about freedom of expression and censorship in the country.
- On Sunday, the writer was still in Béjaïa without any restriction of freedom, according to her publisher. The book had been presented in Algiers the previous week without any issues.
- The Koukou publishing house has a history of facing censorship in Algeria. In 2022, twelve of its books were banned at the main book fair, SILA, primarily due to their political content.
