Irish novelist Sally Rooney has said her public support for the pro-Palestinian protest group Palestine Action, which the British government has designated a terrorist organization, means she can no longer sell her books in the United Kingdom. The author of Normal People and Intermezzo told The Guardian on Wednesday that after Britain proscribed the group in July 2025, she made clear her intention to back it, noting that it is not banned in the Republic of Ireland.
“As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the U.K. could now constitute a serious criminal offence,” Rooney said in a statement. “After a process of consultation and deliberation, and with my full agreement, my publisher Faber has therefore determined that it can no longer supply my work within the U.K.” She added, “I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences.”
Faber confirmed it cannot pass on earnings from Rooney’s UK sales to the author. “To sell a writer’s work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher,” the company said. “As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have taken the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the U.K. in any format. We remain the proud publisher of her remarkable body of work, which we will continue to sell in other territories.”
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, who has legally challenged the ban, wrote on X that Rooney “refused to withdraw her support for the direct action group which targeted the Israeli arms industry, costing her the royalties from all of her UK sales.” Rooney also added her name to a high court statement backing a legal challenge to the proscription, warning of the law’s impact on freedom of expression. She said in that statement that customers could see her books disappear from UK store shelves and that future releases could be blocked.
Mass arrests and ongoing legal fight
The Guardian estimates that more than 3,700 people have been arrested in the UK for alleged support of Palestine Action, most for holding signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” with around 2,500 charged. None have been tried while the legal challenge to the ban proceeds, with the case expected to reach the British Supreme Court next month. Proscription makes it a crime to support or be a member of the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action, formed in 2020, has carried out direct-action protests in the UK, including a break-in at a facility owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems UK in August 2024. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the group in August, accusing it of having “supported numerous acts of terrorism” and “promoted its violent, criminal, and terrorist acts on social media.”
The development comes amid broader debates over free speech and protest rights in the UK, as seen in global responses to terrorism and the ongoing scrutiny of political expression. For Rooney, the decision underscores the personal and professional costs of taking a stance on a controversial issue, a theme that resonates with politicians and public figures who face backlash for their positions.
Rooney’s publisher will continue to sell her works in other territories, but her absence from the UK market marks a significant shift for one of Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary authors. The legal challenge to the ban, which has broad implications for civil liberties, is being closely watched by free speech advocates and political observers alike.
