Award judges resign after Queensland state library strips writer’s prize over Hamas tweet

Karen Wyld, who writes under the name K A Ren Wyld, had her black&write! fellowship withdrawn by the State Library of Queensland over a deleted tweet about the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Photograph: Dominc Guerrera

At least four judges for the Queensland literary awards have resigned over the past 24 hours, protesting against the State Library of Queensland’s decision to withdraw a prestigious $15,000 fellowship from First Nations writer Karen Wyld over comment she made last year about the Gaza conflict.

The 2022 Stella award winning poet Evelyn Araluen, Wiradjuri academic and writer Dr Jeanine Leane, writer and reviewer Nigel Featherstone and Gamilaroi poet Luke Patterson all confirmed to Guardian Australia on Friday they have resigned from the awards’ judging panels. It is believed several other judges have also resigned, but wish to remain anonymous.