Sally Rooney withdraws books from UK market over Palestine Action support

Irish novelist Sally Rooney has agreed with her publisher to pull all her titles from sale across the United Kingdom. The decision follows the British government’s proscription of the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in July 2025, a status that makes public support for the group illegal under the Terrorism Act.

Faber, Rooney's publisher, confirmed that current legislation has created circumstances where earnings from British sales cannot be passed on to the author. In a statement, the publisher said,

"To sell a writer's work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher. As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have taken the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format."

Media additions

Faber, Publisher, via Newsday and others

Rooney released a statement confirming the move was made with her full agreement.

"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,"

Sally Rooney, Novelist, via Newsday and others

she wrote, adding that fulfilling publishing contracts in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence.

The controversy stems from an opinion piece published in The Irish Times in August 2025, wherein Rooney declared,

"I too support Palestine Action. If this makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under U.K. law, so be it."

Sally Rooney, Novelist, via Newsday and others

She stated an intention to use proceeds from her novels and television fees to continue supporting the group. Palestine Action is not banned in the Republic of Ireland, where Rooney lives.

The UK Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, outlawed Palestine Action following a series of direct-action protests, notably an intrusion into a Royal Air Force base in June 2025 to protest British military support for Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The proscription places the group under the same terrorism legislation as militant groups, making membership or financial support punishable by up to 14 years in prison under Section 15 of the Terrorism Act.

According to Home Office figures cited across reports, terrorism-related arrests surged following the ban. A total of 3,867 arrests were recorded for terrorism-related activity in the year ending June 2026, up from 234 in the previous 12-month period, with approximately 94% linked to support for Palestine Action. Civil liberties groups have criticised the ban for restricting protest and free speech, and more than 3,000 people have been arrested since the group was outlawed.

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori described the author's withdrawal as

"a new low in the escalating assault on free speech caused by the proscription of Palestine Action."

Huda Ammori, Co-founder of Palestine Action, via The Independent and others

Ammori noted that a world-renowned author fearing arrest and removing her books exposes the chilling consequences of the law.

Rooney's works have enjoyed immense commercial success in Britain. Specific sales figures show that "Normal People" has sold more than one million copies in the country, while "Conversations With Friends" and "Beautiful World, Where Are You" have each sold more than 500,000 copies. Her fourth novel is "Intermezzo," and both "Normal People" and "Conversations With Friends" were adapted for television by the BBC.

Following the proscription, Rooney cancelled a trip to London to accept the Sky Arts Award for literature over concerns of potential arrest upon entering the country. Regarding physical availability, Waterstones confirmed that while e-book editions have been removed, Faber advised that booksellers face no restrictions on keeping existing physical stock on shelves. Faber will continue to sell Rooney's work in other territories outside the UK.

The situation follows previous political stances by the author. In 2021, she refused a Hebrew translation of "Beautiful World, Where Are You" by an Israeli publishing house, citing a cultural boycott of Israel, though she later agreed to a Hebrew translation of "Intermezzo" through a left-wing publisher in May with restricted distribution.

Lawyers for Palestine Action are scheduled to ask the UK Supreme Court next month to overturn the ban. All legal cases involving individuals charged with breaching the proscription have been put on hold pending the court’s upcoming ruling.