We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah against political interference and the growing suppression of academic freedom in Australia.

Dr. Abdel-Fattah, a distinguished scholar and award-winning researcher, secured a highly competitive $870,000 Australian Research Council (ARC) fellowship through a rigorous, peer-reviewed process. Her work on Arab and Muslim activism in Australia is a critical contribution to understanding our nation’s history and multicultural landscape.

Yet, instead of celebrating this vital research, the Australian government has targeted and undermined her academic integrity. The recent politically motivated investigation into her work, driven by pressure from lobby groups, is an attack on intellectual freedom and a dangerous precedent for all academics.

At a time when thousands of Palestinians have been killed, displaced, and subjected to human rights violations, this move serves as a deliberate attempt to silence a Palestinian academic rather than address the ongoing atrocities.

This is not just about Dr. Abdel-Fattah. It is about the future of academic independence in Australia. If we allow political interests to dictate what research is deemed “acceptable,” we jeopardize free thought, critical inquiry, and the right to challenge injustice.

We Demand:

1️⃣ That Minister Jason Clare immediately retract his directive for an investigation into Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah’s research and publicly affirm his commitment to protecting academic freedom

2️⃣ A commitment from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to uphold its independence and protect scholars from politically motivated attacks.

3️⃣ That Macquarie University reaffirm its support for academic freedom and reject any external pressure to censor critical scholarship.

Academic freedom must not be compromised by political agendas. This attack on Dr. Abdel-Fattah is an attack on all scholars, researchers, and students who seek to engage in truth-seeking, critical thought, and fearless inquiry.

We call on academics, students, community groups, and all defenders of free speech to sign this petition and stand in defense of intellectual freedom and justice.