Abdel-Fattah launches legal action over writers festival chaos
Academic and author Randa Abdel-Fattah has launched legal action against La Trobe University and the City of Greater Bendigo almost a year after she withdrew From Bendigo Writers FestivalHe said he aims to set a new standard in the industry regarding anti-Palestinian racism and discrimination.
In a post on social media on Monday, Abdel-Fattah said he was making the claim “on the basis of political belief or activity” under Victoria’s Equal Opportunities Act (2010) because “universities and cultural institutions must be held accountable for discrimination and anti-Palestinian racism”.
Abdel-Fattah was scheduled to appear as part of a panel discussion at the Bendigo Writers Festival, of which La Trobe University is a main partner, in August last year.
But days before the festival, panelists received a code of conduct asking participants to comply with Universities Australia’s definition of antisemitism and “avoid language or subject matter that could be considered inflammatory, divisive or profane”.
This demand caused Abdel-Fattah and dozens of other Australian writers to withdraw from the event, throwing the event into chaos.
As previously reported by this mastheadThe Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism, a lobby group also known as 5A, expressed concern about Abdel-Fattah’s appearance with event organizers ahead of the festival, saying his participation in the panel discussion would “pose a direct threat to the Jewish community in Australia”.
The letter claimed that Abdel Fattah was “widely known for his anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli rhetoric.” [and] “He constantly dehumanizes people with Zionist views and accuses them of being unworthy of human dignity.”
He also noted a series of social media posts in which Abdel Fattah claimed that Zionists “have no claim to cultural security” and that institutions that value “Zionists’ fragile emotions” are “disgusting.”
Abdel-Fattah’s appearance at Adelaide Writers’ Week earlier this year was also cancelled.
The event was canceled after 180 writers boycotted the festival following public outcry over the board’s decision, triggering the resignation of director Louise Adler.
On Monday, Abdel Fattah called Israel an “apartheid state and genocidal settler colony” and said: “This is not the time to normalize the racism and oppression demanded by definitions of antisemitism used to silence those who speak out against Israel.”
Donors contributed more than $125,000 to a fund established for the author’s upcoming legal action.
The City of Greater Bendigo declined to comment. La Trobe University and Abdel-Fattah have been contacted for comment.
More to come
