Randa Abdel-Fattah, who is Palestinian Australian, has faced criticism for controversial comments on Israel, including alleging Zionists had ‘no claim or right to cultural safety’
W
hen the board of a South Australian festival cut a prominent Palestinian Australian author from its lineup, citing her “past statements” in the context of the deadly Bondi terror attack, it no doubt braced itself for controversy.
What it may not have foreseen, however, is an implosion.
Five days after the Adelaide festival board announced it had removed Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah from its writers’ week lineup, more than 180 speakers had boycotted the event, almost the entire board along with the festival’s director had resigned, and the 2026 writers’ week had been cancelled.
