Nearly 50 authors, commentators, and academics have dropped out of this year’s Adelaide Festival in Australia after the Festival announced that they were canceling an appearance by Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah over “cultural sensitivity” concerns. The Palestinian-Australian academic was involved in multiple events at 2023’s Adelaide Festival, but is no longer welcome this year.
The Festival board’s public comment says that in light of Dr. Abdel-Fattah’s “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,” referencing the antisemitic mass shooting in December 2025. The board makes clear that they’re not implying Dr. Abdel-Fattah was connected to the tragedy, rather that their decision was made because of undefined and uncited past statements.
The response to Dr. Abdel-Fattah’s ouster has been swift and widespread. According to The Guardian, 47 authors have already dropped out—including Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, Sarah Krasnostein, Michelle de Kretser, Drusilla Modjeska, Melissa Lucashenko, Evelyn Araluen, and Trent Dalton— prompting the festival to remove the full schedule of writers’ week events from their site until it can be reworked.
Many concerned organizations have also condemned the decision. The Jewish Council of Australia decried the move: “The fact that yet another institution has caved to a relentless campaign waged against Dr. Abdel-Fattah and supporters of Palestinians should be deeply concerning to all who value a plural and open society.” And the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel called the removal of Dr. Abdel-Fattah a “shamelessly racist decision effectively dehumanis[ing] Palestinians, and normalis[ing] Israel’s genocide and war crimes.”
I can only speculate on the sources of pressure that led the Adelaide Festival to this disgraceful decision, but it’s clear that even years into Israel’s live-streamed genocide, the Palestine exception to free speech is still too powerful. But as always, I’m heartened to see the solidarity of fellow writers and thinkers, who continue to stand up to intolerant attempts to circumscribe culture.
Image from adelaidefestival.com.au
