Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK thanks to support from Palestine Action | UK News

Sally Rooney said she was forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because of her support for the banned organization Palestine Action.

The Irish novelist, whose books include Normal People and Conversations With Friends, said her public support for the direct action group meant she could no longer receive royalties from sales in the UK.

After Palestine Action was banned last year, Rooney said she would use proceeds from sales to support Palestine Action. Supporting organizations banned under the Terrorism Act is an offense and she later canceled a trip to the UK to collect a reward, for fear of arrest.

In a statement provided to the Guardian, the bestselling author said: “‘In July 2025, the direct action protest group Palestine Action was banned as a terrorist organization in the UK. The following month, I wrote an opinion piece expressing my intention to continue to support Palestine Action, which is not a proscribed or otherwise banned group here in the Republic of Ireland.”

“As a result, executing contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offense. 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 in the UK. I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am fully prepared to accept the consequences.”

In a statement to the High Court supporting the legal challenge to the ban, warning of its impact on free speech, Rooney said his books could disappear from British stores and the publication of new works in the UK could be prevented.

Her books have received critical acclaim – she has been described as the voice of a generation – and have enjoyed huge commercial success in the UK. Normal People has sold over a million copies, while Conversations With Friends and Beautiful World, Where Are You have each sold over 500,000. Both Normal People and Conversations With Friends have been adapted by the BBC, and the former received 62.7 million views, becoming the channel’s most-streamed series in 2020.

Rooney said last year that the TV series’ independent producer told her that any payments made to her for the series, both of which aired before the ban, would violate terrorism laws if he knew or suspected she was using the royalties to fund Palestine Action.

Section 15 of the Terrorism Act makes it an offense for a person to “provide money or other property and knows or has reasonable grounds to suspect that such property will or may be used for terrorist purposes”. He faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Its UK and Ireland publisher, Faber, said: “Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK income to Sally Rooney for her work. Selling a writer’s work and not being able to pass on the income is an unconscionable situation for a publisher.

“As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have made the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format. We remain the proud publisher of her remarkable body of work, which we will continue to sell in other territories.”

More than 3,700 people have reportedly been arrested in the UK for their alleged support for Palestine Action since it was banned in July last year, most for holding up signs saying: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.

Around 2,500 people have been charged, but none have gone to trial as the legal challenge to the ban continues and will be heard by the Supreme Court next month. Most of the arrests and charges relate to Article 13 of the Terrorism Act, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of six months.

Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action who took legal action against the ban, said: “Sally Rooney’s inability to publish her work in the UK marks a new low point in the growing assault on free speech brought about by the ban on Palestine Action…

“(She) took a courageous and principled stand from the moment plans to ban Palestine Action were announced. She refused to compromise her beliefs, even at considerable personal and professional cost. Her work should be celebrated and widely available, not wiped from the shelves of UK bookstores because she refuses to be complicit in suppressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. No author should have to choose between their principles and their freedom to publish.”

Kerry Moscogiuri, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said: “Whatever one’s views on Palestine Action, we should all be concerned when laws intended to combat terrorism end up silencing artistic freedom and the ability to engage in peaceful political dissent.

“Writers should not have their books disappear from shelves because of their political beliefs. Nor should people have to choose between expressing their conscience and making a living.

“Sally Rooney’s willingness to accept the personal consequences of her beliefs deserves to be recognized. There is a real danger that others, seeing the price she paid, will decide they cannot afford to speak out.”

Rooney’s books were still on sale in central London on Wednesday afternoon, and Waterstones said existing stock could still be sold.

Gian Carlo, bookseller at Henry Pordes Books, said the same thing, adding: “Nothing is wrong with Sally Rooney in this matter. We sell books of all types, they are not author related. I can’t say I disagree with her.

John Clegg, bookseller at London Review Bookshop, said: “I ordered more as soon as I saw the news. I saw the number go down to zero, so I hope they get through. People are going to want them and we won’t be able to get them through Faber.

“Credit to her for taking a stand, this seems like a ridiculous law. If this thing convinces the Home Office to move more quickly to get rid of it, I’m all for it.”