Adelaide Festival's Writer's Week in Crisis as Pro-Palestine Academic Randa Abdel-Fattah is Dropped from Lineup Amid "Cultural Sensitivity" Concerns.
A row of high-profile writers and academics, including Nobel laureates and award-winning authors, has joined the growing list of those boycotting Adelaide Festival's writer's week over a contentious decision to drop pro-Palestine academic Randa Abdel-Fattah from its lineup. The festival board cited "cultural sensitivity" concerns following the Bondi terror attack as the reason for the move.
Among those who have pulled out are esteemed writers Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, and Sarah Krasnostein, as well as notable authors Michelle de Kretser, Drusilla Modjeska, Melissa Lucashenko, Trent Dalton, and Bri Lee. The decision has sparked widespread condemnation, with many accusing the festival board of exploiting the tragedy to silence a prominent Palestinian-Australian academic.
The move comes after Abdel-Fattah faced sustained criticism from the Coalition, some Jewish bodies, and media outlets for her comments on Israel, including allegations that Zionists had "no claim or right to cultural safety." The decision has been met with fierce resistance from many in the literary community, who argue it is a gross act of censorship.
The festival board defended its decision, stating that while they did not suggest Abdel-Fattah's statements were connected to the Bondi attack, her past comments made them "culturally insensitive" at this time. However, many have questioned the logic behind the move, arguing that it is an attempt to silence a prominent Palestinian voice in Australia.
As the fallout continues, public policy thinktank the Australia Institute has withdrawn its sponsorship for the 2026 event, stating that it has previously promoted bravery, freedom of expression, and the exchange of ideas. Many have expressed their solidarity with Abdel-Fattah, who has called on the festival to apologise and reinstate her invitation.
The decision highlights the ongoing tension between freedom of speech and cultural sensitivity in public discourse, particularly when it comes to issues around identity and politics. The backlash against the festival's move suggests that many writers and academics will no longer tolerate efforts to silence prominent voices without proper justification.
A row of high-profile writers and academics, including Nobel laureates and award-winning authors, has joined the growing list of those boycotting Adelaide Festival's writer's week over a contentious decision to drop pro-Palestine academic Randa Abdel-Fattah from its lineup. The festival board cited "cultural sensitivity" concerns following the Bondi terror attack as the reason for the move.
Among those who have pulled out are esteemed writers Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, and Sarah Krasnostein, as well as notable authors Michelle de Kretser, Drusilla Modjeska, Melissa Lucashenko, Trent Dalton, and Bri Lee. The decision has sparked widespread condemnation, with many accusing the festival board of exploiting the tragedy to silence a prominent Palestinian-Australian academic.
The move comes after Abdel-Fattah faced sustained criticism from the Coalition, some Jewish bodies, and media outlets for her comments on Israel, including allegations that Zionists had "no claim or right to cultural safety." The decision has been met with fierce resistance from many in the literary community, who argue it is a gross act of censorship.
The festival board defended its decision, stating that while they did not suggest Abdel-Fattah's statements were connected to the Bondi attack, her past comments made them "culturally insensitive" at this time. However, many have questioned the logic behind the move, arguing that it is an attempt to silence a prominent Palestinian voice in Australia.
As the fallout continues, public policy thinktank the Australia Institute has withdrawn its sponsorship for the 2026 event, stating that it has previously promoted bravery, freedom of expression, and the exchange of ideas. Many have expressed their solidarity with Abdel-Fattah, who has called on the festival to apologise and reinstate her invitation.
The decision highlights the ongoing tension between freedom of speech and cultural sensitivity in public discourse, particularly when it comes to issues around identity and politics. The backlash against the festival's move suggests that many writers and academics will no longer tolerate efforts to silence prominent voices without proper justification.
... she's being silenced just 'cause some people can't handle her opinions 
. I mean, we should be having these conversations, not trying to shut them down 
. The fact that the festival board is using the Bondi terror attack as an excuse to drop her from the lineup is just a huge cop-out 
. We need more voices like hers, especially when it comes to Palestinian-Australian experiences and perspectives 
. It's not about being "culturally sensitive" - it's about respecting people's freedom of expression 
. What's next? Silencing other writers who speak out against injustice? The literary community is speaking out loud and clear against this move, and I'm so proud to be part of it 
.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, but at what cost? "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." 
If we're too afraid to speak out against injustice, then who will voice the truth? 
I can imagine how frustrating and hurtful this must be for Randa Abdel-Fattah, especially after already facing criticism for her comments on Israel. It's like she's being punished twice - once for speaking out on a sensitive issue and now again for the same crime. 
It's people like Randa who are brave enough to speak truth to power, and we should be celebrating their voices, not trying to shut them down. 
they're basically silencing Randa Abdel-Fattah just because some people got their undies in a twist 
! It's like they're trying to erase Palestinian voices from the literary scene in Australia 
! Can't we just have an open discussion about complex issues without resorting to "cultural sensitivity" as a cop-out 
?!
they need to get their priorities straight and focus on promoting free speech over petty politics 
. whats next? gonna cancel the entire festival cuz some ppl r offended by somethin? 
dont think so! gotta stand by Randa and show that even if ur opinions arent popular, ur voice still matters 
randa abdel-fattah is just saying what a lot of ppl are thinking but dont wanna say out loud 
a big circle with a line through it, and then another circle in the background that says "silence" 
. Randa Abdel-Fattah has spoken out against Israel and that's not okay, but it's also not for the festival board to decide what words are 'culturally insensitive' at any given time 
. What's next? Silencing people with different opinions on climate change or social justice? I think they're being hypocritical 
and need to own up to their mistake 
. It's like we're stuck in this limbo of "be sensitive" vs "be brave enough to have an opinion". Can't we just try to have a nuanced conversation about these things? 
It feels like we're losing sight of what's really important – free speech and open discussion 
. We need more Randa Abdel-Fattahs in our lives, speaking truth to power and challenging the status quo 
.
... I don't get it. It's just words, right?