When Literature Gets Silenced: The Adelaide Writers’ Week Controversy and What It Means for Free Expression
The literary world is in uproar this week after a major cultural institution in Australia made a decision that many see as censorship in action. Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian Australian author, academic and advocate, was removed from the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week line-up by the Adelaide Festival Board — a move that has sparked a wave of withdrawals from writers and raised urgent questions about free speech, representation, and the role of literature in public life.
What Happened?
Dr Abdel-Fattah was scheduled to speak about her new adult novel, Discipline, at this year’s Adelaide Writers’ Week — a long-standing, much-loved literary festival that brings readers and authors together for open dialogue and exchange. But, according to ABC News, the Adelaide Festival Board announced she would no longer be appearing, stating it would “not be culturally sensitive to continue to program [her] at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi.” That comment referenced the tragic Bondi Beach shooting in December 2025 — despite the board also saying they were not linking Dr Abdel-Fattah to the event.
Dr Abdel-Fattah strongly condemned the decision as a “blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship.” She said the board’s actions stripped her of her humanity and agency, unfairly reducing her to a symbol of controversy rather than acknowledging her work and voice as an author.
The Literary Community’s Response
The reaction from the writing community was swift and decisive. More than 30 authors withdrew from the festival in protest — including prominent literary figures and award-winning writers — arguing that removing Dr Abdel-Fattah undermines the festival’s reputation as a forum for open discussion rather than a space of censorship.
Independent groups and organisations also voiced their dismay. Some described the decision as part of a broader pattern of silencing Palestinian voices in arts and culture — echoing similar controversies over attempts to restrict speech in other writers’ festivals.
Why This Matters
At The Banned Book Shop, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of literature — not merely as entertainment, but as a vital platform for perspectives that challenge us, broaden us, and sometimes even make us uncomfortable. This episode is about more than one author being removed from a festival program; it’s about who gets to tell stories, whose voices are heard, and who decides what is “acceptable.”
Books and writers have long been targets of censorship and boycotts — whether for political, religious, racial, or moral reasons. From banned classics to contemporary authors facing backlash for their views, literature has always been a battleground for ideas. What makes literature powerful is precisely its capacity to reflect complex, diverse human experiences — including those that might unsettle us. Restricting that exploration in literary forums undermines the very spirit of free, open dialogue that writers’ festivals are meant to foster.
Looking Forward
The Adelaide Writers’ Week controversy may be a flashpoint in ongoing debates about free expression in the arts — but it also offers an opportunity for readers, authors, educators, and book lovers to reflect on why it’s so important to defend diverse voices in the literary landscape.
Here at The Banned Book Shop, we stand with those who speak up for the right to share their stories and perspectives — because every voice deserves a chance to be heard, even (and especially) when it challenges us.