Furore over free speech / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

January 13, 2026 12:02am CST

In South Australia, the Adelaide Festival starts in early February. The Adelaide Writers’ Festival (AWW) was to be held in conjunction with the main event. One of the presenters was to be Palestinian-Australian author, Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has made numerous anti-Israel and anti-Zionist social media posts. The Adelaide Festival Board has cancelled Ms Abdel-Fattah’s appearance at the Writers’ Festival causing over 180 participants to boycott the event. Now, the director of the AWW, Louise Adler, has resigned and the whole event has been cancelled. Ms Adler, herself the daughter of Holocaust survivors and a member of the Jewish Council of Australia's advisory committee, did not support Abdel-Fattah’s exclusion but said it came about after "after pressure from pro-Israel lobbyists, bureaucrats and opportunistic politicians". There is nothing that links the author with the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach. This is a hard one for those governing the country. We’re bringing in tougher gun laws and laws against hate speech but we also advocate free speech. It’s a very fine line they have to tread sometimes. The image is mine.

15 people like this

11 responses

Anna

@LadyDuck (502491)

• Italy

13 Jan

It's really sad and I am always against preventing someone to give a speech only because it's part or not of a political party or a specific country. I see freedom fading in every country, sad! Beautiful photo.

4 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

It's a fine line sometimes between what is acceptable and what is not.

3 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (502491)

• Italy

14 Jan

@JudyEv - You are so right, hard to take some decisions.

2 people like this

Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (135791)

• Marion, Ohio

13 Jan

It is a hard thing to decide sometimes.

3 people like this

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Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (135791)

• Marion, Ohio

14 Jan

@JudyEv And they also have to worry about someone trying to harm the speaker because of not agreeing with them. So they did the right thing

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Jan

@wolfgirl569 So many get so angry and agitated if someone disagrees with them.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

It is indeed.

2 people like this

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Amber

@AmbiePam (120841)

• United States

13 Jan

I wouldn’t have supported that author, and I don’t like what she represents, but as long as she’s not advocating violence I support her right to talk about it. That being said, I’m not sorry she no longer has a platform. I’m sick of the ridiculous hate pouring out against Jewish people.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

There almost needs to be a distinction between 'Israel' and 'Jewish'. After all the people the Jews lost through the holocaust, it hasn't stopped them trying to alienate the Palestinians. It's such a complex issue.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (120841)

• United States

14 Jan

@JudyEv I still don’t blame Israel for wanting their own homeland. People have been trying to annihilate them for generations. They wouldn’t mess with anyone if no one messed with them. Doesn’t make them right all the time -no way, no way, am I saying that.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

@AmbiePam It's very complex, isn't it? The Palestinians need somewhere to live too. I'm not sure where they're supposed to go. I don't really know the ins and outs of the conflicts.

@DaddyEvil (174500)

• United States

13 Jan

Some people take things too far. It's a shame when innocent people get blamed for the things others do.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

The author is now suing the mayor of Adelaide. Heaven knows where it will all end.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (35037)

• United Kingdom

13 Jan

Free speech is OK s long as you don't express controversial opinions, right?

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

That's about it in a nutshell.

2 people like this

Jessica

@JESSY3236 (22245)

• United States

13 Jan

pretty picture.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

Thanks. It's always calming to see the sun/moonlight on the water.

2 people like this

snowy

@snowy22315 (208964)

• United States

13 Jan

We have the same situations here.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

I'm sure you do and the dilemmas would be equally complex.

luisadannointed

@luisadannointed (11848)

• Philippines

13 Jan

All I can say is that I am so scared of the God of Israel. And I hope I will never cross that borderline. Coz when he says Bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel is still true until today. if they did not hit first Israel, that little country will not strike back, Israel vs how many country? and they stills tands until today, their God is really real and a tough onw.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

I'm not sure that God is the problem. I think their leader is.

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

13 Jan

It is a hard line they walk.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

It is indeed.

1 person likes this

Shiva

@Shiva49 (28385)

• Singapore

13 Jan

When it comes to matters of faith and politics, it is more of emotions that take over and logic and reason are forgotten. It is better that the event is cancelled as it could have led to more bad blood among the partcipants.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

Yes, logic and reason have been pushed to the back here.

1 person likes this