Ukraine and Jewish communities protest Palestinian-American author Susan Abulhawa at Writers’ Week

A Ukrainian woman whose son was killed in the war just weeks ago has told of her hurt created by Writers’ Week giving a platform to a controversial author.

Author Susan Abulhawa speaking at Writers’ Week. Picture Kelly Barnes

A Ukrainian woman has publicly protested against the inclusion of controversial Palestinian-American writer Susan Abulhawa at Adelaide Festival Writers’ Week, just weeks after she says her son was killed on the frontline by Russian forces.

An emotional Nataliia Bakhurynska joined several members of the South Australian Ukrainian and Jewish communities at Tuesday afternoon’s session.

They stood in solidarity with signs condemning “hate speech” as Ms Abulhawa took to the stage to discuss “fiction in politics”.

But for Ms Bakhurynska, the denunciation of what she called Ms Abulhawa’s “pro-Putin propaganda” was more personal.

Members of the South Australian Ukrainian community including Nataliia Bakhurynska, second from left, at Writers’ Week. Picture: Todd Lewis

“My son defended Ukraine for six months and he died one month ago,” she said.

“It’s hurtful that this woman who wants to talk about human rights issues and protecting Palestinian women’s rights can at the same time proclaim Russia’s propaganda about war.”

During the public session, another Ukrainian protester Valentine Shimaniuk approached the stage to verbalise his disapproval at Ms Abulhawa’s presence.

The incident was met with unrest and booing from the crowd, prompting security to escort him from the area.

Ms Bakhurynska said that was a sign “Putin’s propaganda was working”.

“Mr Shimaniuk was not the root of evil, but he was protested against by the crowd, which means Russian propaganda is working. Not propaganda of democracy, but propaganda of war,” she said.

Mr Shimaniuk said he took issue with Ms Abulhawa’s tweets claiming President Volodymyr Zelensky was partly to blame for Russia’s invasion.

“By attacking Mr Zelensky, she’s attacking the whole Ukrainian society,” he said.

Abulhawa has been an outspoken critic of Zelensky, previously calling him a “depraved Zionist with a house on stolen Palestinian land”, a “clown who is trying to ignite World War III” and “mad and far more dangerous than (Russian President Vladimir) Putin”.

The crowd at Writers’ Week on Tuesday. Picture: Kelly Barnes

But Ms Abulhawa said her words towards Zelensky were not “hate speech”.

“I’m a writer with no power,” she said.

“This is a man who is commanding the attention of the most powerful nations in the world who are who are lining up at his doorstep just to pay homage, and the idea that I’m somehow abusing him is absurd.”

Norman Schuler was among the Jewish community leaders showing a public presence at Ms Abulhawa’s talk.

Susan Abulhawa at Tuesday’s session. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“For the most part in this afternoon’s session, there wasn’t even an element of truth,” he said.

“If this ‘free speech’ had been truthful, and it hadn’t been hate filled … then there wouldn’t be a problem,” he said.

Ms Abulhawa said she rejected her “tone being policed”.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the onus is put on the victims to police our tone … it really speaks to how little room there is for public discourse in Australia.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Abulhawa told ABC radio: “Australian media has extrapolated my words and made their own interpretation and false claims that I am a cheerleader for (Russian president Vladimir) Putin.

“In my view, Putin has committed horrible crimes and should answer for them, but that does not mean that we cannot have a robust and honest discussion about what brought us to this point in Ukraine.”