"Dozens of authors, journalists, media personalities and a sponsor are boycotting the Adelaide festival after it dumped Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from its annual writers' week lineup, citing concerns over cultural sensitivity in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. More speakers were expected to withdraw from the festival, with speculation that other high-profile figures were coordinating their exit announcements."
"Miles Franklin winner Michelle de Kretser, authors and commentators Jane Caro and Peter FitzSimons, the co-founder of Cheek Media, Hannah Ferguson, the journalist and academic Peter Greste, First Nations academic and writer Prof Chelsea Watego and reporter Amy Remeikis were among those confirmed by Friday morning to be boycotting the annual writers festival. Australian authors Bri Lee and Madeleine Gray said they would not participate unless the festival reversed its decision and reinstated Abdel-Fattah."
"But in a statement released on Thursday, the festival board said it had 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 that while it did not suggest in any way that Abdel-Fattah or her writings had any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, the decision was made given her past statements."
Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian Australian and Macquarie University academic, was removed from the Adelaide Festival lineup days after the Bondi terror attack amid board concerns about cultural sensitivity and her past statements. Dozens of cultural figures, journalists and a sponsor announced boycotts in protest, with further withdrawals expected and reports of coordinated exit announcements. Named boycott participants include Michelle de Kretser, Jane Caro, Peter FitzSimons, Hannah Ferguson, Peter Greste, Prof Chelsea Watego and Amy Remeikis. Bri Lee and Madeleine Gray demanded reinstatement as a condition of participation. The board said the decision did not imply any link between Abdel-Fattah and the Bondi tragedy.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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