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After Australian literary festival drops Palestinian activist, citing Bondi massacre, dozens boycott in solidarity

JL;DR SUMMARY The Adelaide Writers Week in Australia disinvited Randa Abdel-Fattah, an Australian-Palestinian author and activist, from its event due to concerns of cultural insensitivity after a recent tragic shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

CensorshipPalestinian ActivismCultural SensitivityZadie SmithLiterary BoycottBondi MassacreAdelaide Writers WeekRanda Abdel FattahJewish Community Council Of South Australia

Places mentioned

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
"The decision by the organizers of Adelaide Writers Week to disinvite Palestinian Australian author, lawyer and activist Randa Abdel-Fattah comes weeks after two gunmen motivated by Islamic State ideology opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, killing 15 and injuring dozens more."
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
"The decision by the organizers of Adelaide Writers Week to disinvite Palestinian Australian author, lawyer and activist Randa Abdel-Fattah comes weeks after two gunmen motivated by Islamic State ideology opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, killing 15 and injuring dozens more."
New South Wales, Australia
"Whilst we do not suggest in any way that Dr Randa Abdel-Fattahs or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, given her 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, the festivals boards statement read."
United Kingdom
"Among the authors who have announced their resignation from the event are British author Zadie Smith, Pulitzer Prize winner Percival Everett, former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and Russian-Jewish writer M. Gessen, according to The Sydney Morning Herald."
Greece
"Among the authors who have announced their resignation from the event are British author Zadie Smith, Pulitzer Prize winner Percival Everett, former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and Russian-Jewish writer M. Gessen, according to The Sydney Morning Herald."
Russian Federation
"Among the authors who have announced their resignation from the event are British author Zadie Smith, Pulitzer Prize winner Percival Everett, former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and Russian-Jewish writer M. Gessen, according to The Sydney Morning Herald."

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Cairo Item ID 72400
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Retrieved 2026-01-10 05:31:20 UTC
Curated 2026-01-10 08:30:49 UTC