Sally Rooney Books Pulled from UK Sale Over Palestine Action Support

Irish novelist Sally Rooney will no longer see her books sold in the United Kingdom following her declaration to use her royalties to support the banned campaign group Palestine Action. The bestselling author, known for acclaimed novels such as Normal People and Conversations with Friends, has been a prominent supporter of Palestine Action. This group was officially proscribed by the British government last year under terrorism legislation.

Ms. Rooney had previously indicated that her intentions might lead to her books being withdrawn from sale in the UK. This statement was made in a witness submission to London's High Court, which was challenging the government's ban on the group. Her publisher, Faber, confirmed on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached with Ms. Rooney: "we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format." However, Faber will continue to distribute her works in other territories.

In a statement, Faber explained, "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." Ms. Rooney herself stated, "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."

Palestine Action's funding sources have faced scrutiny, with the government suggesting Iranian backing, allegations the group denies. Despite being banned in the UK, the group continues to solicit donations online. Its co-founder, Huda Ammori, is set to challenge the ban at the Supreme Court next month. The High Court had initially found the ban unlawful, but the Court of Appeal subsequently reversed this decision in favor of the Home Office.

Thousands of campaigners have been apprehended in the UK for expressing support for Palestine Action since the ban. Among them is Robert Del Naja of the band Massive Attack, who was arrested for a second time recently. Ms. Rooney has voiced criticism regarding these arrests, some of which have impacted Irish citizens in the UK. In an article for The Irish Times last year, she described these actions as a "selective enforcement of anti-terror law." She contrasted this with the activities of supporters of another proscribed organization, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), who repainted a loyalist mural in north Belfast after storm damage. "No arrests were made on that basis, nor has the mural been taken down, though the UVF is a proscribed terrorist organisation responsible for the murders of hundreds of civilians," she wrote. "Palestine Action, proscribed under the same law, is responsible for zero deaths and has never advocated the use of violence against any human being. Why then are its supporters arrested for wearing T-shirts, while murals celebrating loyalist death squads are left untouched?"

Ms. Rooney is not the sole significant donor to Palestine Action. James "Fergie" Chambers, an American communist and heir to a substantial conglomerate, disclosed in a 2023 interview that he was covering Palestine Action's legal expenses.