US EditionTop Australian writers' festival cancelled after Palestinian author barred
The removal of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah led to over 180 authors boycotting, multiple board resignations, and the cancellation of the 2026 Adelaide Writers' Week.
- The Adelaide Writers' Week was cancelled after Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah was removed from the program due to cultural sensitivity concerns following the Bondi attack.
- Over 180 writers, including notable authors, withdrew from the festival, leading to significant backlash.
- Festival director Louise Adler resigned in protest, asserting the decision to silence Abdel-Fattah undermined freedom of expression and calling the outcome a tragic moment for the festival.
- Abdel-Fattah rejected the festival board's apology, stating that her removal was an act of anti-Palestinian racism and diminished her to an object of others' fears.
101 Articles
101 Articles
Adelaide festival cancellation exposes progressive hypocrisy
Adelaide Writers’ Week has been cancelled following the withdrawal of more than 180 authors, with the director and almost the entire board resigning. The move came after the festival disinvited Palestinian-Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, stating that it would not be “culturally sensitive” to keep her on the programme in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre last month, where Islamic State-affiliated terrorists killed 15 people during the …
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Australian writers’ festival collapses — and apologizes — after boycott over disinvited Palestinian activist
The organizers of an Australian literary festival pulled the plug on this year’s event on Tuesday, after nearly 200 authors said they would boycott over the disinvitation of a Palestinian-Australian author and activist who has justified “armed struggle.” The board of the Adelaide Writers’ Week announced last week that they had disinvited Randa Abdel-Fattah, saying they felt her presence “would not be culturally sensitive” in the wake of the Bond…
Adelaide Writers’ Week: In Australia, there are growing concerns about the widespread curtailment of freedom of expression in the aftermath of the Bondi bombing…
One of Australia's largest literary festivals has been canceled due to controversy surrounding a Palestinian-Australian author who was scheduled to speak. Author Randa Abdel-Fattah had been invited to discuss her new novel at the festival. This sparked controversy within the Jewish community, as she had reportedly made critical remarks about Israel and the war in Gaza in recent years. The Premier of South Australia also spoke out against her par…
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