Sally Rooney forced to withdraw sale of books in UK due to support for Palestine Action

The best-selling author of “Conversations With Friends” and “Normal People” is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action. Sally Rooney, the celebrated and best-selling Irish author behind “Conversations With Friends”, “Normal People” and “Intermezzo”, has said that she can no longer sell books in the UK. Rooney said she is being forced to withdraw her books from sale because of her public support for the organisation Palestine Action, meaning she could no longer receive royalties from UK sales. Rooney’s publisher Faber said: "Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work. 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," the British publisher said, adding that it would continue to sell her work in other countries and regions. The UK banned Palestine Action last year, with the UK government previously warning Rooney that her support could fall foul of terrorism laws. The "terrorist" organization is not banned in Ireland, where Rooney lives. Thousands of people have protested against the ban and been detained, while rights groups condemning the ban as criminalizing dissent. More than 3,700 people are believed to have been arrested in the UK for alleged support of Palestine Action since it was banned in July 2025. Palestine Action's stated goal on its website is to end "global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime." In a statement, Rooney said: “‘In July 2025, the direct-action protest group Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. The following month, I wrote an opinion piece expressing my intention to go on supporting Palestine Action, which is not a proscribed or otherwise prohibited group here in the Republic of Ireland." “As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence. 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 UK. 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.” Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, said: “Sally Rooney being unable to publish her work in the UK marks a new low in the escalating assault on free speech caused by the proscription of Palestine Action … [She] took a brave and principled stand from the moment plans to ban Palestine Action were announced. She has refused to compromise her convictions, even at considerable personal and professional cost.” Ammori added: “Her work should be celebrated and widely available , not driven off the shelves of British bookshops because she refuses to be complicit in the suppression of solidarity with the Palestinian people. No author should have to choose between their principles and their freedom to publish.”