Brisbane, Australia
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A much-loved annual literary festival has been canceled after more than 180 writers quit the program to protest the dumping of a Palestinian Australian author, whose invitation was withdrawn due to “cultural sensitivities” following the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Adelaide Writers’ Week has been mired in controversy since late last week when the board announced Randa Abdel-Fattah, a prominent critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, was no longer invited to attend “given her past statements.”
“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…
