Tahar Djaout
Encyclopedia
Tahar Djaout was an Algeria
n journalist
, poet
, and fiction
writer
. He was assassinated by the Armed Islamic Group
because of his support of secularism
and opposition to what he considered fanaticism. He was attacked on May 26, 1993, as he was leaving his home in Bainem, Algeria. He died on June 2, after lying in a coma for a week. One of his attackers professed that he was murdered because he "wielded a fearsome pen that could have an effect on Islamic sectors." He was born in Oulkhou
, in the relatively secular Kabylie
region. After his death the BBC made a documentary about him entitled 'Shooting the Writer', introduced by Salman Rushdie.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He was assassinated by the Armed Islamic Group
Armed Islamic Group
The Armed Islamic Group is an Islamist organisation that wants to overthrow the Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic state...
because of his support of secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
and opposition to what he considered fanaticism. He was attacked on May 26, 1993, as he was leaving his home in Bainem, Algeria. He died on June 2, after lying in a coma for a week. One of his attackers professed that he was murdered because he "wielded a fearsome pen that could have an effect on Islamic sectors." He was born in Oulkhou
Aït Chafâa
Aït Chafâa is a town and commune in Tizi Ouzou Province in northern Algeria....
, in the relatively secular Kabylie
Kabylie
Kabylie or Kabylia , is a region in the north of Algeria.It is part of the Tell Atlas and is located at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Kabylia covers several provinces of Algeria: the whole of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia , most of Bouira and parts of the wilayas of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Jijel,...
region. After his death the BBC made a documentary about him entitled 'Shooting the Writer', introduced by Salman Rushdie.
Work
- The Last Summer of ReasonThe Last Summer of ReasonThe Last Summer of Reason is a novel by Algerian writer Tahar Djaout. It was originally written and published in French. The English translation was produced by Marjolijn de Jagar, and published by Ruminator Press in 2001, with a foreword by Wole Soyinka. The novel was published...
Novel, Ruminator Books, 2001] (French edn: Le dernier été de la raison, Paris, SeuilSeuilSeuil is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-Population:...
, 1999] - The Watchers [Novel, Ruminator Books] (French edn: Les Vigiles, Editions du Seuil, 1991)
- L'invention du Desert, [Novel, Editions du Seuil, 1987]
- Les Chercheurs d'Os [Novel, Editions du Seuil, 1984]
- Les Rets de l'oiseleur (short stories) [SNED, Algiers, 1983]
- L'oiseau minéral, poems, [Sigean, L'Orycte, 1982]
- L'exproprié, [Novel, SNED, Algiers, 1981]
- Insulaire et Cie, poems [Sigean, L'Orycte, 1980]
- L'Arche à vau-l'eau, poems [Editions Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, 1978]
- Solstice Barbelé, poems, [Editions Naaman, Québec, 1975]
External links
- Tahar Djaout http://www.grijalvo.com/Ziane-Khodja/b_ziane_khodja_fotos_tahar_djaout.htm
- Silence is Death: The Life and Work of Tahar Djaout http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Silence-Is-Death,671918.aspx by Julija Sukys http://julijasukys.com
- "Islamists Killed Tahar Djaout: We Should Give Life to His Ideas," by Jennifer Bryson, January 16, 2009, The Public Discourse