Daily London
The executive director of Adelaide Writers’ Week says the event is navigating a “complex and unprecedented moment” after three board members and the chair resigned, and more than 50 writers pulled out, following the decision to remove Australian-Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah.
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Percival Everett, Booker Prize-shortlisted British author Zadie Smith and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis are part of the dozens of local and international writers who have pulled out from the event after Abdel-Fattah’s scheduled appearance was cancelled due to cultural sensitivities following the December 14 terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.
“Whilst we do not suggest in any way that Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah’s 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 board said in a statement last week.
Abdel-Fattah has previously made comments against Zionists, saying they were “murderous” and had “no claim or right to cultural safety”.
Following a crisis meeting over the weekend, Adelaide Festival chair Tracey Whiting announced her immediate resignation due to “recent decisions”.
“Recent decisions were bound by certain undertakings, and my resignation enables the Adelaide Festival, as an organisation, to refresh its leadership and its approach to these circumstances,” she said in a statement.
“My tenure as chair has been immensely enjoyable, as has working with the terrific AF team.
“I look forward to the future success of the Adelaide Festival.”
Board members Donny Walford, Nicholas Linke, and Daniela Ritorto also resigned.
Adelaide Writers’ Week and Adelaide Festival have turned off comments on social media due to the widespread outrage over the decision.
Today, Adelaide Festival Corporation executive director Julian Hobba issued a brief statement for the first time since the announcement on January 8.
“Following the Adelaide Festival Board’s decision on Thursday 8 January and the significant community response, Adelaide Writers’ Week and Adelaide Festival are navigating a complex and unprecedented moment and will share further updates as soon as we are able,” he said.
The Adelaide Festival Corporation did not respond to a 9news.com.au request for further comment.
Abdel-Fattah has since engaged lawyers as she seeks an explanation for the decision to cancel her scheduled event.
In a letter to the board, Marque Lawyers managing director Michael Bradley wrote that the author was not aware her participation was under question until she received notice she had been removed on January 8.
The notice said “it would not be culturally sensitive” to proceed with her appearance, but made no mention of her previous statements being an issue.
“It appears, from this statement, that the board’s decision to exclude Dr Abdel-Fattah was made because of ‘past statements’ made by her,” Bradley wrote.
“As a matter of basic procedural fairness to Dr Abdel-Fattah, please identify with specificity each of the ‘past statements’ made by her on which the Board relied in making its decision. She is entitled to this information.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has publicly supported the board’s decision and said he offered his opinion to the board, but did not instruct them to remove her from the event.
