Your Views: On the Adelaide Festival Board’s decision to drop a Palestinian writer
The Adelaide Festival Board’s decision over Writers’ Week has sparked strong reactions from readers. Read the Letters to the Editor.
Mask dropped
Michael Galvin is right in saying the mask has dropped. I see the provincial, old -timey, double-breasted suit wearing, Sir Thomas Playford old boys (and old girls’) club that held power when I left SA in the 1960’s never really went away.
If the board is so confident in its position, let it publish the letters upon which it based its decision including – for perspective – the authors.
One might be tempted to question if the composition of the board is fit for purpose for a literary festival. – Dallas Stow
My letter to board
Well – what a surprise. This is what I wrote to the board yesterday
I am simply appalled to read just now about the decision of the board to remove Dr Adbel-Fattah from the Writers’ Week program.
Certainly, the recent event at Bondi Beach was horrific – but that does not justify shutting down free exchange of views as we have come to expect from Writers’ Week – and which are important in building cohesion in our society.
Bearing in mind that Australia has recognised the State of Palestine, it seems particularly inappropriate to shut down discussion on that matter at this stage. Certainly shutting down one set of views hardly seems to be more culturally ‘sensitive’. – Robert Fletcher
Authors withdrawing
Quite a few (not all) of those withdrawing seem to me to be the ‘usual suspects’. –Mark Coleman
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Repercussions for state election
To the board members of The Adelaide Writers Festival, you are refusing the participation of a Palestinian author who is a renowned author of note.
We have all read the reasoning you have given and the support statements from our Premier Malinauskus …. the consequences of which will be shown at this year’s election.
It is quite simply outrageous. That an author of note would be disinvited to a literary event is beyond comprehension here is Australia.
I will boycott this event and encourage all I know to do so also. – Pamela Gurner-Hall
Stay away
Good riddance to the woke and lefy artists who for too long have been pampered by the Adelaide Festival. Hope they stay away. – Deane Edgecombe
Support guerilla festival
The decision by the festival board, contrary to the organiser Louise Adler, is disgraceful. As a South Australian and avid supporter of Writers Week at the AF I am disappointed and angry. This sort of decision feeds divisiveness and racism.
I’ll be interested to see if a Guerilla Festival can be arranged as the current WW will be disastrously shallow without the writers now withdrawn.
It will set a precedent however that people will pay. I’ve spoken to overseas and interstate people over many years, and much of the charm of Adelaide Writers’ Week, apart from the amazing line up of writers we enjoy, is that we sit for free under the trees, often in the heat, all together. – Sue Maywald
It is pleasing to see the support for one human against discrimination to another. I am inspired by the prompt action of so many authors to the board’s decision.
I know that it would have been a challenging session to chair and staff, having seen some hostile questioning (of) Richard Flanagan last year, which both he and a staff member handled very well, to the relief of the audience.
I also understand that the impact of the Bondi terrorism is strongly felt by many Australians, including me.
However, I am also deeply concerned about the genocide in Gaza. It is critically important that we are able to have thoughtful and compassionate discussions about both of these matters, and I expected that Writers’ Week this year would provide the space for that to happen.
The festival has made so many courageous decisions in the past, bringing controversial and challenging writing, dance, plays, music and art to an Adelaide community that truly values and appreciates it.
Stay informed, daily
I am deeply disappointed that at this critical moment, the board has made this decision which I cannot see as anything but cowardly. I will not be attending Writers’ Week this year if the decision is not reversed. – Judith Dwyer AM
Agree with board
I agree that woman was banned. How pathetic are the other boycotters. – Dianne Duffy
Respectfully listen
We can’t ignore what happened on Oct 7 2023. It was an horrendous terrorist attack. Nor can we ignore or minimise the massacre at Bondi.
Also, we can’t ignore the close to complete destruction of Gaza – the main home of Palestinians. I’m strongly opposed to the behaviour of Israeli troops but I’m not antisemitic.
We should respectfully pay regard to what a Palestinian like Randa Abdel-Fattah has to say, not ban her from speaking.
There appears to be no evidence that she has or would express anything but horror for what happened at Bondi.
Those who would have attended Writers’ Week have the right to listen to and if appropriate challenge or perhaps be better informed by individuals like Abdel-Fattah. We have been inappropriately deprived of this. – Terence Donald
Decision ‘madness’
l can’t see how this woman is any threat to anyone. This is madness I love Writers’ Week and always go but this will stop me from going. – Michael Hutchence
Back guerilla festival
I absolutely support the actions of authors who have pulled out of Writers Week.
The actions of the Adelaide Festival board and Peter Malinauskas are absolutely disgraceful. I will definitely be attending the guerilla festival if it goes ahead. – Liz Wilson
Let them withdraw
Sensible decision especially in the wake of what happened at Bondi Beach.
Many Australians are tired of overseas issues being dragged onto our shores. Albanese said as much today. Let the authors withdraw. I won’t be reading any of their books. – Zac
Do some reading
Perhaps the board, Malinauskas and (others) should read article 116 of our constitution. – Dr Mark Chehade
Read the room
The board’s decision is focused on appeasing an audience that informs itself from (other areas), at the expense of academics and free thinkers. If they think they are reading the room, they are in the wrong room. – Simon Pisoni
Do you have a view? Send your letters to [email protected]
