Sally Rooney's books pulled from UK sale over Palestinian Action support
Publisher Faber says UK law prevents it from passing Rooney's UK earnings to her after she pledged book proceeds to Palestinian Action, which Britain has banned as a terrorist group.
At a glance
- Publisher Faber says UK law prevents it from passing Sally Rooney's UK earnings to her, so it will stop supplying her books in the UK.
- Rooney pledged book proceeds to Palestinian Action, which the UK banned; she says she is prepared to accept the consequences.
- The UK ban on Palestinian Action has been challenged in courts, and the case is due at Britain's highest court next month.
Irish novelist Sally Rooney's books will no longer be sold in the UK after her publisher, Faber, said this week that British legislation prevents it from passing her UK earnings to her. The decision follows Rooney's pledge to donate proceeds from her work to Palestinian Action, a group the UK has banned under terrorism law.
Faber said current UK legislation created a situation in which it could not forward Rooney's UK earnings for her work. Selling a writer's work without being able to pass on earnings was unacceptable for a publisher, it said. The publisher added that, in full agreement with Rooney, it would stop supplying her works in the UK in any format.
Rooney, 35, is an Irish author whose best-selling novels have long been described as 'the voice of a generation.' They explore millennial relationships as well as class, gender and politics. She has said she believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel denies the allegation. Last year, she announced she would give the British proceeds from her books to Palestinian Action.
The banned group
Palestinian Action describes itself as using disruptive tactics against corporate enablers of the Israeli military-industrial complex, aiming to stop such companies profiting from the oppression of Palestinians. It has targeted facilities linked to an Israeli weapons manufacturer. In a major security breach last year, activists broke into Britain's largest air force base and spray-painted two aircraft blood red, calling it a protest against UK military support for Israel. The group also vandalized one of President Trump's golf courses in Scotland in March last year, painting the words 'Gaza is not 4 sale.' Trump called those responsible terrorists on social media.
The British government banned Palestinian Action in July last year, citing serious damage to property. It said the group's activity had increased in frequency and severity since early 2024, its methods had become more aggressive and members showed a willingness to use violence. The government said its activities met the threshold for being concerned in terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000. It was the first time a terrorist designation was given to an organization that does not call for violence against people.
Critics questioned the ban, raising concerns about freedom of speech. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urged the UK to rescind it, saying it appeared disproportionate and unnecessary and limited the rights of many people who supported Palestinian Action without engaging in criminal activity. Amnesty International UK said the UK had a 'deeply flawed and overly broad definition of terrorism.' Under UK law, providing financial assistance to the group could carry up to 14 years in prison.
Rooney has said she stopped travelling from her home in Ireland to the UK for award ceremonies and other events because she feared arrest after the law took effect. In an Irish Times opinion piece last year, she defended her support and said that if it made her a supporter of terror under UK law, so be it. She said she would use her British proceeds and public platform to keep supporting Palestinian Action and direct action against genocide. Now her books will not be sold in Britain at all, so there will be no further proceeds.
In a statement shared with NPR, Rooney said she had made every effort to be honest with the public about her beliefs and intentions and was wholly prepared to accept the consequences.
Since the ban, several thousand people in the UK have been arrested for supporting Palestinian Action, mainly for carrying placards and wearing T-shirts. The ban has been challenged in court: the UK's high court ruled against it in February, but a court of appeal later overturned that decision. The case is due at Britain's highest court next month. In August, the U.S. Department of the Treasury followed the UK's lead in sanctioning Palestinian Action, calling the group 'far-left terrorists.'
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- Why are Sally Rooney's books no longer being sold in the UK?
- Her publisher, Faber, said UK legislation prevents it from passing her UK earnings to her, making it unconscionable to sell her work. Faber said it agreed with Rooney to stop supplying her books in the UK in any format.
- What is Palestinian Action and why was it banned in the UK?
- Palestinian Action is a UK-based group that says it uses disruptive tactics against corporate enablers of the Israeli military-industrial complex. The British government banned it in July last year, citing serious damage to property and what it called acts of terrorism.
- What has Sally Rooney said about the UK sales decision?
- Rooney said she had made every effort to be honest about her beliefs and intentions and was wholly prepared to accept the consequences. She has also said she believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza; Israel denies this.
