Palestinian writer threatens legal action against Australian politician for linking her to 'Bondi atrocity'

(Web Desk) - Lawyers on behalf of Randa Abdel-Fattah have threatened legal action against South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas over remarks he made about the Palestinian author’s participation in the country’s largest free literary festival.

The uproar began when the board of the Adelaide Festival, which runs the Adelaide Writers Week, announced on 8 January they disinvited Ms Abdel-Fattah from the programme. The board argued that “it would not be culturally sensitive to continue to programme her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi”.

An antisemitic terror attack at the Bondi Beach last month targeting a Jewish event left 15 people dead and dozens wounded. There was no suggestion that Ms Abdel-Fattah or her writings “have any connection with the tragedy”, the board members said.

But the decision led to a major controversy, followed by the resignation of the festival board, the withdrawal of more than 180 writers, at least one sponsor pulling out, and the eventual cancellation of the event.

The Palestinian-Australian author and academic’s legal action follows comments made by Mr Malinauskas during a press conference on Tuesday.

Ms Abdel-Fattah accused him of suggesting she was an “extreme terrorist sympathiser” and linking her to the terror attack.