The Adelaide Festival cited the Bondi shooting when scrapping Randa Abdel-Fattah's appearance
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Australia's largest free literary festival, Adelaide Writers Week, was canceled after over 180 writers and speakers withdrew in protest of the disinvitation of Australian-Palestinian writer Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah, citing censorship concerns.
- The festival board removed Abdel-Fattah due to "cultural sensitivities" following a recent antisemitic mass shooting in Sydney, although they did not link her or her work to the tragedy; this decision was influenced by lobbying from the Jewish Community Council and supported by the South Australian Premier.
- Prominent figures such as British novelist Zadie Smith and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also withdrew from the event, leading to the festival director's resignation and the eventual cancellation of the event with
