Algerian Arabic publishing house MIM Edition announced on Tuesday that it will be suspending business after online backlash over an award-winning novel that was vaguely criticised for perceived inappropriate content.
“We announce that MIM closed its doors effective immediately in the face of the wind and the fire,” the publishing house said in a statement.
“We were nothing but advocates of peace and love, and we sought nothing but to spread that.”
Houaria, by Algerian writer Inaam Bayoud, which has claimed last Tuesday the prestigious Assia Djebar literary Grand Prize, is the novel at the centre of this controversy.
Algerian social media users have called the book "indecent" and say it contained words and expressions from the Algerian Arabic Darija dialect that are considered vulgar and inappropriate.
MIM Edition or Dar MIM in Arabic is a renowned Algiers-based publisher that was established by editor Assia Ali Moussa in 2007.
It has since supported young Algerian women by publishing novels, poetry, plays, and literary and philosophical research.
After the online uproar about the novel, several Algerian intellectuals including journalists and literary critics have rallied to express their support to the author and publisher, drawing attention to the double standards that women face in Algerian society.
“The Inaam Bayoud affair highlights in broad terms the hypocrisy of a part of the people who absolutely do not want to face their contradictions under the cover of a sometimes overrated bigotry,” Algerian veteran journalist Hassan Moali said on his Facebook page.
“The chain of reactions and the sip of violence and hatred against the author and her novel El Houaria is confined within an intellectual misery … and as if it was by “chance” that the incriminated author is a woman.
"The publishing house belongs to a woman and even the literary prize bears the name of a woman [Assia Djebar],” he added.
Literary critic Amina Belaala, who is also a member of the Assia Djebar Grand Prize jury, denied to AFP the existence of any profanity or any expressions that could be deemed offensive towards Algerians.
“We did not see in those few words any affront to morality, religion or modesty,” Ms Belaala said.
She criticised in a Facebook post those who have rushed to call the novel indecent and erotic after reading only a few pages, drawing attention to the exquisite ability of the author in her “precise narrative and character construction.”
“The novelist was able to achieve these standards and write a different text that dealt with a critical stage in Algeria’s history by drawing the diaries of a social group living in poverty and marginalisation,” Ms Belaala said.
“Unfortunately, those who claim to defend values by condemning an imaginary character are defending ideologies against art, and it has been confirmed through this confusion that the hypocritical intellectual only wants hypocritical literature.”
The novel tells the story of a female fortune teller named Houaria – a very famous name in the western Algerian district of Oran – whose clients include people from different social classes who visit her seeking advice on their most intimate secrets.
Bayoud used her character to tell these people’s stories and reflect on the intricate layers of Algerian society.
BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
