Australian writers' festival canceled after booting Palestinian author who lauded Oct. 7
The Times of Israel • • world
Key Points:
- Australia’s Writers’ Week festival was canceled after 180 authors boycotted the event and its director resigned, following the disinvitation of Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah who praised Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
- The festival revoked Abdel-Fattah’s invitation citing cultural sensitivity concerns after the Bondi Beach terror attack, where 15 people were killed, though they denied any direct connection between her and the tragedy.
- Abdel-Fattah condemned the ban as anti-Palestinian racism and censorship, having previously expressed support for Hamas and criticized Zionism, which sparked widespread backlash and solidarity withdrawals from prominent writers and public figures.
- Festival director Louise Adler resigned in protest, accusing pro-Israel lobbyists
