Tahar Djaout

Tahar Djaout (January 11, 1954 – June 2, 1993) was an Algerian journalist, poet, and fiction writer. He was assassinated in 1993 by the Armed Islamic Group.

Early life

He was born in Oulkhou, in the relatively secular Kabylie region.

Assassination

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."

After his death the BBC made a documentary about him entitled 'Shooting the Writer', introduced by Salman Rushdie.

Work

  • The Last Summer of Reason Novel, Ruminator Books, 2001] (French edn: Le dernier été de la raison, Paris, Seuil, 1999]
  • The Watchers [Novel, Ruminator Books] (French edn: Les Vigiles, Editions du Seuil, 1991)
  • L'invention du Desert, [Novel, Editions du Seuil, 1987]
  • Podcasts:

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