Sally Rooney books withdrawn in UK over Palestine Action support

The author of the popular book series "Normal People," Sally Rooney, has announced that her books will no longer be available for sale in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action. The Irish novelist revealed that she had intended to continue using her royalties to support the group, which is currently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.

In a statement to BBC News, Rooney expressed her agreement with her publisher, Faber, to halt the supply of her books in the UK, citing the potential legal consequences. While ebook editions have already been removed from sale, many bookshops still hold existing stock of physical copies. Waterstones confirmed that Faber advised that there were no restrictions on bookstores retaining their current copies.

Despite selling over six million books worldwide, including 2.3 million in the UK, Rooney's publisher, Faber, stated that UK laws have led to a situation where they cannot pass on earnings to Rooney for her work. The publisher emphasized that selling a writer's work without being able to pass on earnings is an "unconscionable situation."

Faber added that they will continue to sell Rooney's remarkable body of work in other territories. The UK government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in 2025, citing its long history of criminal damage, including targeting arms companies linked to Israel's war in Gaza. In July 2025, Rooney wrote an opinion piece expressing her intention to continue supporting Palestine Action, even though it was an offence in the UK.

She also cancelled a UK trip to pick up an award due to fears of arrest. Rooney's co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, praised the author's "brave and principled stand," stating that the withdrawal of her work marks a new low in the escalating assault on free speech caused by the proscription of Palestine Action. Over 3,700 people have been arrested in the UK over alleged support of Palestine Action, with about 2,500 charged but none going to trial due to ongoing legal challenges and a Supreme Court hearing next month.