Britain’s opposition has called for Australian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah to be prevented from entering the country over her outspoken support for Palestine.
Chris Philp, the UK’s Shadow Home Secretary, wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Sunday urging her to block Abdel-Fattah’s planned visit.
Abdel-Fattah was due to appear at six events across Ireland and the UK between September 30 and October 9 to promote her novel Discipline. No event was scheduled for October 7.
Philp cited the author’s longstanding criticism of Israel as grounds for refusing her entry to Britain.
Abdel-Fattah, who is of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage, has previously described Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel as “a moment of freedom”.
“Abdel-Fattah’s tour falls around the anniversary of the October 7 atrocities, as British Jewish communities continue to face acute security concerns,” Philp wrote in a letter seen by The Telegraph.
“Entry to this country is not an unconditional right for foreign nationals. Where an overseas visitor’s conduct, character or associations raise serious concerns about extremist rhetoric or activity, the government must be prepared to use its powers to block them.
“I therefore urge you to review Abdel-Fattah’s case as a matter of urgency and, if the relevant legal threshold is met, refuse or cancel any Electronic Travel Authorisation, entry clearance or other permission required for her to enter the United Kingdom.”
Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah (above) was scheduled to appear at six events in the UK and Ireland from September 30 to October 9
Chris Philp (above), the UK’s Shadow Home Secretary, has urged ministers to prevent Dr Abdel-Fattah from entering the country
Discipline, Abdel-Fattah’s Miles Franklin-shortlisted novel, explores systematic censorship and the conflict between Palestine and Israel.
The book drew renewed attention after Abdel-Fattah was controversially removed from the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week programme. Some 180 authors then boycotted the festival, leading to the collapse of the entire event.
Although Discipline was published in Australia in 2025, Abdel-Fattah’s UK appearances were scheduled to coincide with its release there.
Her itinerary included stops in Dublin, London, Bath and Manchester.
Philp argued on Sunday that the academic’s tour could fuel antisemitism because of her previous remarks about the October 7 attacks.
“These are not trivial or isolated remarks. Taken together, they raise serious questions about whether allowing (Dr) Abdel-Fattah to enter Britain and undertake a high-profile speaking tour is compatible with the public good,” Philp wrote.
“Britain should be unequivocal in confronting extremism, whatever its source.
“The government cannot say that it is determined to confront extremism while failing to scrutinise overseas speakers whose rhetoric appears to celebrate or excuse the events of 7 October and refusing to describe a proscribed terrorist organisation for what it is.”
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Dr Abdel-Fattah’s UK tour for her novel Discipline (above) was scheduled around the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel
A UK Home Office spokesperson said the department does not comment on individual cases but stressed that it opposes antisemitism.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief Peter Wertheim told The Australian his organisation hadn’t heard about Dr Abdel-Fattah’s UK tour but understood why it was facing scrutiny.
‘We can well understand the concerns that have been raised about her visit, especially as it will coincide with the commemorations of the anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks,’ Mr Wertheim said.
Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said the ZFA would support the UK in its right to ‘deny a visa to someone seeking to enter for the purpose of spreading hatred’.
‘At a time when Britain is confronting an elevated terrorism threat, repeated attacks and threats against its Jewish community and serious challenges to social cohesion, it is entitled to consider that record when deciding whether to grant someone the privilege of entry,’ Mr Leibler said.
‘The United Kingdom does not need imported extremism given another platform to promote hatred against Jewish communities.’
Dr Abdel-Fattah’s events and guest appearances have repeatedly faced criticism from Jewish-Australian organisations.
Her discussion event about Discipline was initially pulled from Adelaide Writers’ Week earlier this year due to ‘cultural sensitivity’ following the terrorist attack at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach in December 2025.
Dr Abdel-Fattah (above) previously described the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Palestinian group Hamas as ‘a moment of freedom’
Organisers attempted to re-invite Dr Abdel-Fattah to the event after the initial snub triggered a mass boycott from authors, but then the Writers’ Week was cancelled altogether.
Her prior appearances at Bendigo Writers Festival last year and Newcastle Writers’ Festival in March were both criticised by Jewish groups.
Dr Abdel-Fattah claimed she’d been singled out by another writers’ event three weeks ago.
She’d been set to host book talks at the Cambridge Literary Festival, in November, but her appearance was cancelled when the venue, Newnham College, became unavailable.
The Australian author claimed the true reason behind the cancellation was because the Jewish Chronicle, a Jewish newspaper in London, had approached the festival about her forum.
‘I hope the festival will choose principle over posturing and follow through with my session at an alternative venue,’ Dr Abdel-Fattah wrote online.
‘There has never been a more important time for arts institutions to push back against these targeted campaigns that aim to silence our voices from public life.’
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