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Top 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.
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Adelaide Writers’ Week: In Australia, there are growing concerns about the widespread curtailment of freedom of expression in the aftermath of the Bondi bombing…

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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…

·Netherlands
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happymag.tv broke the news in on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
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