Adelaide Writers' Week has removed prominent Palestinian Australian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah from its line-up, citing national grief following the Bondi tragedy — a decision that has prompted a wave of withdrawals from prominent writers in protest.
On Thursday, the Adelaide Festival board confirmed it had informed Abdel-Fattah that she would no longer appear at the event.
Abdel-Fattah was the only author of Palestinian descent scheduled for Writers' Week.
In a statement the board said: "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."
Speaking to Australian Associated Press, Abdel-Fattah criticised the festival's leadership, saying: "In the end, the Adelaide Writers' Festival will be left with panellists who demonise a Palestinian out of one side of their mouths while waxing lyrical about freedom of speech from the other."
The activist condemned her cancellation and called the board "egregiously racist" and said it had attempted to strip her of her humanity.
"The board's reasoning suggests that my mere presence is ''culturally insensitive'; that I, a Palestinian who had nothing to do with the Bondi atrocity, am somehow a trigger for those in mourning and that I should therefore be persona non grata in cultural circles because my very presence as a Palestinian is threatening and 'unsafe'," Abdel-Fattah said.
The decision sparked immediate backlash, with several writers and academics withdrawing from the festival in solidarity.
The festival said it was anticipating its decision would cause "discomfort".
"Consideration of the appropriate response to such a tragedy is a human exercise that we understand is subjective in nature. We also understand others will undoubtedly form different judgments. These judgments may likely even change as the landscape and context evolves."
Those who have pulled out include former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen, former political prisoner and foreign correspondent Peter Greste, and two-time Miles Franklin winner Michelle de Kretser.
Araluen, one of the writers who dropped out, said: "Erasing Palestinians from public life in Australia won't prevent antisemitism. Removing Palestinians from writers festivals won't prevent antisemitism."
Following the axing, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) released a statement, rejecting the board's claim that it removed Abdel-Fattah due to "cultural sensitivity".
APAN president Nasser Mashni said: "What we are seeing is not caution — it is discrimination ... Apparently, it's culturally insensitive to be Palestinian at this time."
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticised the decision to remove Abdel-Fattah.
"South Australia has a proud history of our arts festivals and supporting artist freedom of expression. This craven decision will leave our state and our reputation as the festival state in tatters," she said in a statement.
The Australia Institute has also withdrawn its support and sponsorship from this year's events.
In 2025, at the Bendigo Writers Festival, more than 50 writers and moderators boycotted the event over concerns its code of conduct would suppress discussion of Israel's actions in Gaza.
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