Macquarie University probes prominent academic, after comments cause ‘distress’
Macquarie University is investigating the conduct of a prominent academic, after she spouted anti-Israel tropes online and accused Israel of “committing a holocaust” in the Gaza war.
NSW
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Macquarie University has launched an investigation into a prominent academic who wrote “may 2025 be the end of Israel,” with the Jewish community calling for her sacking amid complaints student feel unsafe.
The university confirmed it was probing the conduct of Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah, a future Fellow in the Department of Sociology, after a series of comments were made on social media spouting anti-Zionism online and accusing Israel, “the people of a Holocaust,” of “committing a holocaust,” in the ongoing war in Gaza.
One Instagram post by Dr Abdel-Fattah, 45, who describes herself as a human rights advocate and Supreme Court lawyer, states: “May 2025 be the end of Israel. May it be the end of the US-Israeli imperial scourge on humanity.
“May we see the abolishment of the death cult of Zionism and the end of US Empire.”
In another post the Palestinian Egyptian Muslim author wrote “Israeli Zionists demands are murdering torturing and raping with zero restraint, hourly, daily.”
On Boxing Day a post she wrote on X said: “Daily, hourly slaughter. Zionism is a Palestinian slaughter house and still there are people supporting this abomination of a regime and ideology. To hell with you all. Every last Zionist.
“May you never know a second’s peace in your sadistic miserable lives.”
Macquarie University confirmed in a statement to The Daily Telegraph its was investigating her online comments due to its duty of care to “distressed” students and the university community.
“The University is aware of comments made on social media by a member of its staff that have caused concern and distress among some members of the community,” the statement read.
“Macquarie University has policies and procedures in place to balance its commitments both to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all and to lawful free speech and academic freedom.
“Where there is found to be a breach of policy, the University will act to address the matter under its policies and procedures.”
Jewish community leaders called on university executives to dismiss the mother of four, who is a recipient of a $802,000 grant from the taxpayer-funded Australian Research Council to research Arab Muslim Australian social justice activism.
“There needs to be an end to future public grants to Ms Abdel-Fattah and an immediate review (by Macquarie University) of her fitness to be an educator,” said Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin.
“She has created an unacceptable risk for the welfare and health of Jews and Israelis at the University. It is intolerable that our taxes are propping this up.”
Earlier this year Dr Abdel-Fattah and activist group Parents for Palestine organised a “kids excursion” where primary school children chanted “intifada” and “Israel is a terrorist state” at the University of Sydney’s pro-Palestine encampment protests, triggering an internal investigation.
She then claimed she had offered a “space of comfort (and) healing” for Palestinian and Muslim families traumatised by the war and that children acted under their own volition.
Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory said it was “inconceivable” Australian taxes were used to fund her “deranged hatred”.
“Anti-Semitism is surging on Australian university campuses, it’s imperative that Macquarie University disassociate itself from Randa Abdel-Fattah and the hatred she spreads,” said AJA CEO Robert Gregory.
“This is just the latest incident involving Randa Abdel Fattah. Macquarie University should terminate her employment,” he said.
Jewish businessman Ronn Bechler accused the university of being “toothless”.
“Each iteration is worse than the last given the lack of action by Macquarie University,” he said.
Dr Abdel Fattah was contacted for comment.
The NSW Government said university disciplinary processes are a matter for universities.
“Freedom of speech is a core value of academic and university life, but this also comes with the responsibility to ensure this is done in a way where all students feel culturally safe,” a spokesperson said.
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