UQ Vice Chancellor vowed to review deal anti-Israel campaigner’s book deal
A Queensland university has vowed to review a book deal with a controversial anti-Israel campaigner involved in a symposium in Brisbane where a speaker was accused of ‘anti-Semitism’.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The University of Queensland has vowed to review a publishing deal with a controversial Anti-Israel campaigner who spoke at a divisive ‘anti-racism symposium’.
Jewish Community leaders urged the University of Queensland to reconsider the partnership with Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has previously come under fire for comments including a post in which she wrote “may 2025 be the end of Israel”.
Earlier this month, University of Queensland Press announced it was “delighted” to have acquired Macquarie University academic Ms Abdel-Fattah’s first work of fiction for adults “The Occupation”, to be published in September.
According to the UPQ site, her book is set during Israel’s May 2021 bombing of Gaza, it focuses on two characters whose lives become intertwined following the arrest of Nabil, an eighteen-year-old Muslim Palestinian boy who is a Year 12 student at Al-Bayinnah Islamic College in Western Sydney.
In a statement on the UQP website that has since been altered, Ms Abdel-Fattah made accusations of genocide against Israel.
“As we bear witness to the world’s first live-streamed genocide, we must never forget that Israel’s genocide would not be possible without decades of liberal institutions dehumanising, repressing and denying Palestinian resistance, voices and agency,” the post said.
When contacted by The Courier-Mail about the deal on Sunday, UQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry said she had recently become aware that UQ Press had acquired the work of fiction and that she would be meeting with the publishing arm this week.
“While I acknowledge that UQP has editorial independence, I will be meeting with them this week to understand the context to their decision and seeking assurances on their underlying processes,” Ms Terry said.
“I have directed UQP to remove some commentary by the author on UQP’s website that does not relate to her fictional work and may be hurtful to some members of our community.
“We acknowledge the difficulties currently faced by our Jewish staff and students and are committed to enabling a safe and inclusive University for our whole community.”
The publisher Aviva Tuffield is an executive member of the Jewish Council of Australia and on the UQP post said she was a “longtime fan and admirer of Randa Abdel-Fattah’s books.”
It comes after JCA co-leader Sarah Schwartz made headlines last week over her appearance at the Queensland University of Technology’s ‘anti-racism’ symposium where she ridiculed “Dutton’s Jew”, igniting condemnation from Jewish, federal and state leaders who have called for the institution to face a parliamentary inquiry.
Ms Abdel-Fattah also spoke at the event.
The Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg said he had written to Chancellor Peter Varghese and Vice Chancellor Deborah Terry over the release of Ms Abdel-Fattah book citing “serious issue of anti-Israel sentiment.”
“It’s a sad day for this information to be shared from another University in Queensland on the back of QUT symposium, which was also a bad decision by key University in Queensland,” he said.
“They’ve got to seriously come up with better governance processes to ensure that [this type of sentiment] doesn’t rise on their campuses and institutions.”
Mr Steinberg called on the university to reconsider the decision to publish the book.
Ms Abdel-Fattah was listed as an external speaker at the event on Friday and has previously posted online that she hoped 2025 would “be the end of Israel” and called for the “abolishment of the death cult of Zionism”.
UQP is one of Australia’s leading publishing houses and was established in 1948 and a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Queensland.
Ms Tuffield and Ms Abdel-Fattah were contacted for comment.
Originally published as UQ Vice Chancellor vowed to review deal anti-Israel campaigner’s book deal
Sudden Brisbane tunnel closure causing major delays
Traffic on multiple major routes into the Brisbane CBD and from the western suburbs is being severely impacted as a result of the sudden closure of the Legacy Way tunnel due to emergency roadworks.
‘Leave now’: Very dangerous flood approaches, as clean-up begins
An emergency alert for a fast-moving flood has been issued, as Far North Queensland residents face more torrential rain in inundated regions, while some struggle to secure supplies and start the clean-up.
Green light win for twin tower project
Walker corporation wins approval to develop residential twin towers in Maroochydore City Centre, Australia’s largest greenfield CBD.
Insurance claims soar as residents return to flood-ravaged homes
Hundreds of homeowners across North Queensland have already filed claims for flood damage, but insurance companies say it’s only the tip of the iceberg with many yet to return home and some not likely to have insurance at all.
Breakthrough a burst of hope for kids with brain tumours
Children struck down with brain cancer have been given new hope with Queensland scientists hailing a breakthrough in the treatment of childhood cancer as potentially transformative.
Hundreds gather for vigil to ‘shining light’ killed in Bribie shark attack
Family and friends of the tight knit Bribie Island community have gathered for a vigil for shark attack victim Charlize Zmuda led by a touching green and yellow balloon tribute.