Hafid Bouazza (Arabic: حفيظ بوعزة, ḥafīẓ būʿazza; 8 March 1970 – 29 April 2021) was a Moroccan-Dutch writer.[1]
Born in Oujda, Morocco, Bouazza came to the Netherlands in October 1977 as a seven-year-old boy. He lived with his parents in the village Arkel, near Gorinchem, until he went to study Arabic language and literature at the University of Amsterdam.[1]
He received the E. du Perron prize for his 1996 debut De voeten van Abdullah (The feet of Abdullah).[2] Later works include Momo and Solomon, in 2001 Een beer in bontjas ("A bear in a fur coat"); the play adaptions Apollien, De slachting in Parijs ("The massacre in Paris") and Othello; and Het monster met de twee ruggen : een kameropera ("The beast with two backs: a libretto"). Bouazza gave the 2002 Mosse Lecture, titled Homoseksualiteit en Islam (Homosexuality and Islam).[3] His 2004 novel Paravion won the 2004 Golden Book-Owl prize.[2] His novel Spotvogel appeared in 2009, after years of silence. Bouazza, an atheist,[1] is known for his criticism of Islam. His sister Hassnae is a noted journalist.[4][5] In 2014, the Dutch freethinkers association De Vrije Gedachte honoured him with the title of "Freethinker of the Year".[1]
Bouazza died in hospital in Amsterdam on 29 April 2021. He had been struggling with poor health and drug use.[6]
Media related to Hafid Bouazza at Wikimedia Commons
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