Australian Festival Faces Backlash Over Decision to Drop Palestinian Author

Approximately 100 writers and four board members have withdrawn from the Adelaide Festival after it disinvited Australian-Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from its February event. The festival’s chairperson and three board members have resigned in response to the decision.

The Adelaide Festival had announced that Abdel-Fattah would not be invited to participate in the event due to concerns about cultural sensitivity following the Bondi Beach mass shooting, which occurred on December 14. The festival’s executive director stated that the organization was “navigating a complex and unprecedented moment” after receiving significant community response.

As a result of the disinvitation, around 100 participants have also withdrawn from the festival, leaving its future uncertain. The decision to disinvite Abdel-Fattah was made by the festival board, which cited concerns about cultural sensitivity in relation to the Bondi Beach attack.

Several high-profile individuals, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and British author Zadie Smith, have withdrawn from participating in the event. Australian-British author Kathy Lette has also boycotted the festival, stating that the decision sends a “divisive and plainly discriminatory message”.

The Australia Institute, an independent think tank, has denounced the festival’s decision as “pure, ugly politics” and announced its withdrawal as a sponsor of the event. The organization stated that the moral implications of the decision are significant.

In contrast, the festival had previously retained pro-Israel New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman as a participant in 2024, despite lobbying from academics who called for his removal over a controversial column.

Source: Al Jazeera