After Australian literary festival drops Palestinian activist, citing Bondi massacre, dozens boycott in solidarity

JTA – An Australian writers’ festival is facing backlash after it announced that it had removed an Australian-Palestinian author from its lineup over concerns that her inclusion wouldn’t “be culturally sensitive” in the wake of the Bondi massacre. 

The decision by the organisers of Adelaide Writers’ Week to disinvite Palestinian Australian author, lawyer, and activist Randa Abdel-Fattah comes weeks after two gunmen motivated by “Islamic State ideology” opened fire on a Chanukah celebration in Sydney, killing 15 and injuring dozens more. 

“While we don’t suggest in any way that Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, given her past statements, we have formed the view that it wouldn’t be culturally sensitive to continue to programme her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi,” the festival’s board’s statement read. 

While it was unclear what the festival’s organisers were referring to, in the wake of the Bondi massacre, Abdel-Fattah made a post decrying those whom she said were “quickly surrendering to the agenda of those who are using a horrific act of antisemitism to entrench anti-Palestinian racism”. 

“Now is the time to insist on principles, not abandon them,” she said in a 17 December post on Instagram, three days after the attack. “To see through the shameful and dangerous political exploitation of the murder of 16 people by Zionists, white supremacists, the far right to advance their racist, violent, and oppressive agendas.” 

The festival’s organisers wrote that the decision would “likely be disappointing to many in our community”, adding that they expected that it would be “labelled and will cause discomfort and pressure to other participants”. 

Indeed, since the organiser’s decision was announced on Thursday, nearly 50 writers have announced that they would boycott the festival, scheduled to take place from 28 February to 5 March, according to The Guardian. 

Among the authors who have announced their resignation from the event are British author Zadie Smith; Pulitzer Prize winner Percival Everett; former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis; and Russian-Jewish writer M. Gessen, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. 

Jewish Community Council of South Australia Public and Government Liaison Norman Schueler told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he had written a letter to the organisers calling for Abdel-Fattah’s removal. The progressive Jewish Council of Australia condemned Abdel-Fattah’s removal. 

“The board [has] completely, appropriately disinvited her, and personally, I’m very, very surprised it appears a large cohort of people have decided to support her,” Schueler told the outlet. 

On Thursday, Abdel-Fattah posted a statement on X where she decried the festival’s decision. 

“This is a blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship and a despicable attempt to associate me with the Bondi massacre,” she said. “After two years of Israel’s live-streamed genocide of Palestinians, Australian arts and cultural institutions continue to reveal their utter contempt and inhumanity towards Palestinians. The only Palestinians they will tolerate are silent and invisible ones.” 

Abdel-Fattah told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that she hoped that the festival would reconsider its decision. 

“I would like an apology. I would like a redemption in terms of the retraction of that statement, the reinstatement of my invitation, and steps by the board to hold itself accountable to the community for what it has done here,” she said.