Palestinian Australian Randa Abdel-Fattah.
Writers boycott Adelaide festival after it dumps Palestinian academic
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Writers and activists call for boycott of Adelaide Writers’ Week over exclusion of Palestinian-Australian author.
- Randa Abdel-Fattah and supporters accuse festival of racism and censorship linked to Bondi tragedy.
Readers’ Writers Against Genocide (RWAG) is urging the public to boycott Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) 2026 in support of Palestinian-Australian author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. The call follows the Adelaide Festival Board’s (AFB) decision to withdraw her invitation, citing concerns that her participation would be “culturally insensitive” in the wake of the Bondi massacre.
View this post on Instagram
RWAG described the removal as “blatant racism and censorship,” stating that linking Abdel-Fattah’s identity and work to the Bondi attack is “dangerous and defamatory” and a violation of her human rights.
The Bondi incident, which occurred nearly a month ago, saw gunmen open fire at a Jewish holiday celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 16 people and injuring 40. Australian officials have classified the attack as a “targeted antisemitic attack”.
Festival cites “cultural sensitivity”
On Thursday, Dr Abdel-Fattah received a letter from AFB formally withdrawing her invitation to Writers’ Week, scheduled for February 8 to March 15. The letter stated:
“In a period of national mourning and heightened community tension, we have considered our operations in light of the broader community context… the Board has formed the judgment that it would not be culturally sensitive to proceed with your scheduled appearance.”
Read more: "Palestine 36" faces organized smear campaign
Her profile was subsequently removed from the festival website. The letter added:
“Whilst we do not suggest in any way that Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah’s or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, given her past statements, we have formed the view that it would not be culturally sensitive to continue to program her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi.”
Writers decry censorship and racism
RWAG warned that such political interference in the arts signals threats to democracy and urged supporters to write to AFB chair Tracy Whiting to protest the decision. The group emphasized the importance of artistic freedom, the power of words to drive social change, and encouraged readers to boycott AWW while purchasing books from authors who withdrew, foregoing both appearance fees and festival sales.
Read more: Bella Hadid, Pedro Pascal lead star-studded charity for Palestine, Sudan
Dr Abdel-Fattah told 7 News Adelaide that the cancellation highlights “the normalisation of anti-Palestinian racism by public institutions in so-called Australia.” She described linking her presence to the Bondi attack as “outrageous” and criticized the festival for showing “obscene contempt” for writers, the public, and booksellers, despite expecting widespread support for the boycott.
View this post on Instagram
Among those withdrawing in solidarity is Stella Prize-winning Jewish Australian historian Clare Wright, who wrote to the festival’s director denouncing the decision as “moral cowardice, wrong-headedness and short-sightedness.” She said:
“As a Jewish Australian, I am shocked and insulted that the board could exploit the tragedy of Bondi to weaponise its much-loved and respected literary festival.”
Over 100 writers have reportedly withdrawn from the festival in protest of the decision, signaling a growing backlash against what they view as discriminatory censorship.
