Advertisement

'It's been fun': Controversial former ABC presenter leaving Australia

Muslim public speaker and former ABC presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied is London-bound, calling it an "Australian rite of passage" after months of criticism over her views on Anzac Day.

She made the announcement via social media on Monday morning.

"#GearingUpForANewAdventure. Folks, it's been fun, but I'm off to partake in the Aussie rite of passage - I'm moving to London! 💖 #inshallah," she wrote.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied accompanied her tweet with a grinning thumbs up. Photo: Twitter
Yassmin Abdel-Magied accompanied her tweet with a grinning thumbs up. Photo: Twitter

Abdel-Magied became the target of a months-long torrent of vitriol after she linked government asylum seeker policies to Anzac Day on Anzac Day earlier this year.

"LEST.WE.FORGET. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine...)", she wrote.

She was targeted by conservative commentators and forced to retract the comment and her ABC show Australia Wide was later cancelled.

Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has recently insisted she should "move to an Arab dictatorship”.

Abdel-Magied has not further explained her reasons for leaving Australia, however, the Sudan-born mechanical engineer, author and speaker has said in the past she believes racism has played a strong role in the relentless assaults on her character.

"Choosing not to defend myself and 'let it blow over' backfired because it hasn't blown over," she wrote on Twitter last week.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied has said she believes racism has driven the criticism of her. Photos: Facebook
Yassmin Abdel-Magied has said she believes racism has driven the criticism of her. Photos: Facebook

"Staying silent left a vacuum that other voices gleefully filled with hate and vitriol that was deeply racist.

"If I stay silent, then 'they' win. Then others get to define the narrative. Then those with deep institutional power r able to silence I can't abide that."

Today's top news headlines - July 3