Dozens of Authors Withdraw from Adelaide Writers' Week After Removal of Palestinian-Australian Writer

Australian columnist Parnell Palme McGuinness criticized a group of writers boycotting the Adelaide Writers' Week festival, describing their solidarity as ironic given the context.

The boycott follows the Adelaide Festival board's recent decision to remove Palestinian-Australian writer and academic Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah from the Writers' Week lineup. Abdel-Fattah was scheduled to discuss her new book, Discipline, at the event running from February 28 to March 5, 2026.

The board cited "cultural sensitivity" concerns following a deadly antisemitic shooting in Bondi, Sydney, in December 2025 that killed 15 people, though they emphasized no direct link to Abdel-Fattah or her work.

Abdel-Fattah has faced ongoing controversy for her pro-Palestinian 'activism'. On October 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas attacks on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and involved terrorists using paragliders, she posted an image of a paraglider silhouetted against a Palestinian flag on social media.

Jewish community groups interpreted this as glorifying the attacks, though Abdel-Fattah has defended it as a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

She has also been accused of antisemitism in the past, including for allegedly doxing Jewish creatives in 2024 and making statements about Zionists' "fragile feelings" and lack of "cultural safety."

In 2025, her $870,000 research grant was temporarily suspended amid an investigation but was later reinstated after she was cleared.

In response to her removal, over 40 authors and artists withdrew from the festival in protest, calling it an act of 'anti-Palestinian racism' and censorship.

Notable international boycotters include British author Zadie Smith, American novelist Percival Everett (Pulitzer winner), journalist Masha Gessen, and economist Yanis Varoufakis.

Australian participants pulling out include Booker Prize winner Richard Flanagan, Miles Franklin Award winners Michelle de Kretser and Melissa Lucashenko, Helen Garner, Hannah Kent, Evelyn Araluen, Jane Caro, Peter Greste, and Peter FitzSimons.

The controversy has spilled over, with American producer DJ Haram withdrawing from the festival's music program as well.

Abdel-Fattah responded via Instagram, describing the decision as "a blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship" and an attempt to associate her with the Bondi tragedy.

Supporters like Stella Prize winner Clare Wright resigned from the festival, labeling it an exploitation of tragedy.

On the other side, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas supported the board's move, citing Abdel-Fattah's alleged celebration of civilian deaths and doxing.

Jewish leaders like Norman Schueler praised it as a "wise move" for community cohesion.

This isn't the first such incident at Adelaide Writers' Week; similar debates over Palestinian voices occurred in 2024, including the removal of a Jewish writer.

The festival temporarily took down its program webpage on Friday amid the withdrawals, and talks of a "guerrilla festival" or funding cuts have emerged.