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Sally Rooney withdraws book sales from Britain over Palestine Action ban

The Irish author and publisher Faber have decided to stop supplying her works in the UK to avoid criminal offences following the proscription of Palestine Action.

By Faultline AI Desk 2 min read

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Irish novelist Sally Rooney and her publisher, Faber, have announced that her books will no longer be sold in Britain. This decision follows the British government's proscription of the direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in July 2025. The move prevents the author from receiving royalties from her UK sales due to current legislation.

The withdrawal affects several of Rooney's major works, including Normal People, which has sold over one million copies, as well as Conversations With Friends and Beautiful World, Where Are You.

Legal consequences for publishers and authors

According to the Morning Star, Faber stated that current UK legislation means the publisher can no longer pass on earnings from Britain to the author. Faber described the inability to pass on a writer's earnings as an "unconscionable situation" and confirmed that, in full agreement with Rooney, they will no longer supply her works in the UK in any format.

Rooney has publicly stated her intention to use proceeds from her sales to support Palestine Action, a group that is not proscribed in the Republic of Ireland where she lives. In a statement reported by Novara Media, Rooney said that "the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence." She added that she has made every effort to be honest about her intentions and is "wholly prepared to accept the consequences."

A pattern of state repression

This decision follows a period of increasing tension between the British state and supporters of Palestine Action. Novara Media reports that Palestine Action became the first direct action group in British history to be proscribed as a terror organisation under Keir Starmer’s Labour government.

The impact on the author's movement in Britain has been ongoing. In September 2025, Rooney was forced to cancel a trip to the UK to receive a Sky Arts award for her novel Intermezzo due to the risk of arrest under the Terrorism Act. Furthermore, in November 2025, she submitted a statement to the High Court supporting a legal challenge to the group's proscription, arguing that the ban impeded free expression, including cultural and artistic expression.

Rising arrests and legal challenges

The crackdown on support for the group has resulted in significant legal action. Novara Media reports that more than 3,700 people have been arrested for opposing the proscription since the ban came into force. The majority of these arrests were for holding signs stating, "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

Home Office data cited by Novara Media shows that terror-related arrests have risen by 1,553% in the last year, with 94% of those arrests linked to support for Palestine Action.

The legal battle against the government's decision continues. Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, is scheduled to challenge the proscription in the Supreme Court, with proceedings beginning on 4 November.

This piece was generated automatically by an AI model from the sources listed below. It has not been reviewed by a human editor.

Sources

Original reporting by Faultline / Kommando 161 — share it freely.