Key Takeaways
- The Adelaide Writers’ Week has been cancelled due to controversy surrounding the cancellation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah’s appearance
- The event’s director, Louise Adler, has resigned and criticized politicians and lobby groups for their role in the cancellation
- Adler described the controversy as a "watershed moment" in the history of Adelaide Writers’ Week and a "masterclass in poor governance"
- The cancellation has sparked a debate about censorship and freedom of expression, with many writers withdrawing from the event in support of Abdel-Fattah
- The South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, has been accused of influencing the board’s decision to cancel Abdel-Fattah’s appearance
Introduction to the Controversy
The Adelaide Writers’ Week, a prominent literary festival in Australia, has been cancelled due to a controversy surrounding the cancellation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah’s appearance. The event’s director, Louise Adler, has resigned and criticized politicians and lobby groups for their role in the cancellation. Adler described the controversy as a "watershed moment" in the history of Adelaide Writers’ Week and a "masterclass in poor governance". The cancellation has sparked a debate about censorship and freedom of expression, with many writers withdrawing from the event in support of Abdel-Fattah.
The Cancellation of Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Appearance
The controversy began when the Adelaide Festival board cancelled Abdel-Fattah’s appearance, citing that it would "not be culturally sensitive to continue to program [her] at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi". However, Adler argued that this statement was a "word salad" and that the invocation of the Bondi issue was a "dog whistle" that implied Abdel-Fattah was somehow responsible for the atrocity. Abdel-Fattah had previously posted anti-Israel sentiment on social media, but Adler stated that this was not relevant to her being invited to Writers’ Week. Instead, Abdel-Fattah was invited to discuss her novel "Discipline", which Adler believed was worthy of conversation.
The Role of Politicians and Lobby Groups
Adler criticized politicians and lobby groups for their role in the cancellation, stating that they had engaged in "acts of censorship" and "cultural vandalism". She specifically accused the South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, of influencing the board’s decision to cancel Abdel-Fattah’s appearance. Malinauskas had previously expressed his opposition to Abdel-Fattah’s presence at the event, but claimed that he respected the board’s independence. However, Adler argued that Malinauskas’s actions were contradictory to his previous statements on the importance of freedom of expression.
The Impact on Freedom of Expression
The cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week has sparked a debate about censorship and freedom of expression. Many writers have withdrawn from the event in support of Abdel-Fattah, citing the importance of protecting freedom of expression and opposing censorship. Adler argued that the controversy was a "moment when 180 writers said, ‘We will not support censorship. We will not support the denigration of one particular writer’" and that it was a "watershed moment" in the history of Adelaide Writers’ Week. The incident has also raised concerns about the influence of politicians and lobby groups on cultural events and the importance of protecting freedom of expression in the face of censorship.
The Future of Adelaide Writers’ Week
The cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week has left the event’s future uncertain. Adler remains hopeful that the event will be resurrected in 2027, but acknowledged that its reputation will need to be rebuilt. The incident has sparked a wider debate about the importance of protecting freedom of expression and opposing censorship, and it remains to be seen how the literary community will respond to the controversy. Ultimately, the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting freedom of expression and the need for cultural events to remain independent and free from political interference.
