Randa Abdel-Fattah to feature at Sydney Writers' Festival

Sydney Writers' Festival announces Randel Abdel-Fatah for 2026 programTopic:Arts, Cultural and Entertainment Events3m ago3 minutes agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 9:41pmDr Randa Abdel-Fattah will feature at this year's Sydney Writers' Festival. (Supplied)In short:Author Randa Abdel-Fattah will feature at this year's Sydney Writers' Festival.The festival said Dr Abdel-Fattah was invited last year, stating it was "not in the business of cancelling or censoring writers".It comes as the author had her invite to the Adelaide Writers' Week rescinded, a decision that led to the event being cancelled.abc.net.au/news/randa-abdel-fattah-to-feature-at-sydney-writers-festival/106357178Link copiedShareShare articlePalestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah will be a featured writer at this year's Sydney Writers' Festival.The festival confirmed Dr Abdel-Fattah will feature in two sessions within the program.A statement from festival chief executive Brooke Webb and artistic director Ann Mossop said Dr Abdel-Fattah is a "significant Sydney writer", adding the festival holds "freedom of expression as a core value".It comes after Dr Abdel-Fattah was uninvited from Adelaide Writers' Week, part of the Adelaide Festival, last month after pressure from the South Australian government.That decision set off a chain of events resulting in the resignation of the Adelaide Festival's entire board, and the writing event being cancelled.Dr Abdel-Fattah had her invite rescinded to the Adelaide Writers' Week. (ABC RN: Jennifer Wong)The Adelaide festival moved to uninvite Dr Abdel-Fattah over previous comments that Zionists "have no claim or right to cultural safety" and a 2024 social media posting, saying: "The goal is decolonisation and the end of this murderous Zionist colony", claiming in an accompanying video that Israel's existence depended on violence against Palestinians.In a statement in response to questions from ABC News about that comment, she said her "post made clear that I oppose the espousing of Zionist ideology [but] NEVER the unsafety of Jews".The Sydney Writers' Festival statement on Wednesday said they respected "that public figures and members of the community may hold different views" to Dr Abdel-Fattah."A festival like ours, which holds freedom of expression as a core value, is not in the business of cancelling or censoring writers," the statement said.It comes after NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier this month described the decision by the Newcastle Writers Festival to invite the author as "crazy"."I think they are crazy to invite that author when you think about how divisive it is, and how difficult it would be for the organisation as a result of the notoriety," he said.Dr Abdel-Fattah has been invited to attend Adelaide Writers' Week next year. Posted 3m ago3 minutes agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 9:41pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop StoriesLong-time Bupa customer left $30k out of pocket after shoulder replacement deniedTopic:Health Insurance