‘Normal People’ author Sally Rooney’s books are leaving the UK market — and it’s over Palestine Action support

LONDON, Oct 15 — Irish novelist Sally Rooney is no longer able to sell her books in the United Kingdom due to her support for the activist group Palestine Action, according to her publisher Faber. Rooney has previously voiced her backing for the group, which was classified as a terrorist organization by the UK government in July 2025.

The prohibition, which the organization is challenging, places Palestine Action on the same blacklist as militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, making it unlawful in the UK to join, support, or fund the group. Faber explained in a statement on its website that UK legislation has led to a situation where they cannot transfer UK earnings to Rooney for her work.

Consequently, they have decided not to supply her books in any format in the UK. The publisher emphasized that they would continue to sell Rooney's work in other countries and regions. Rooney, the best-selling author of Normal People and Intermezzo, has previously stated that she would donate earnings to Palestine Action and informed the High Court in London that the proscription could potentially constitute a serious criminal offense, as fulfilling contracts to publish her work in the UK could be deemed illegal.

Rooney stated that she is prepared to accept the consequences of her beliefs. The British Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an appeal against the ban from the group's co-founder Huda Ammori next month. Thousands of individuals have protested against the ban, leading to arrests, while rights groups and some public figures have condemned it as a means of suppressing dissent.

The website of Palestine Action states its goal as ending "global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime." The group's proscription occurred after a series of high-profile demonstrations protesting the war in Gaza, including targeting weapons factories, particularly those belonging to the Israeli arms company Elbit.