{
  "id": 14594404,
  "title": "How Sally Rooney's support for Palestine Action led to UK exodus",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/how-sally-rooneys-support-for-palestine-action-led-to-uk-exodus",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T02:35:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-15/sally-rooney-palestine-action-explained/107268796"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sally Rooney, a prominent Irish author known for her emotionally charged fiction, finds herself unable to sell her novels in the UK due to her support for the organization Palestine Action. Rooney's bestselling book, Normal People, has sold over three million copies and was adapted for TV, garnering immense popularity. She has also penned other acclaimed works like Conversations with Friends and Intermezzo. Rooney joined Palestine Action in August 2025 after publishing an op-ed in The Irish Times supporting the group. Despite winning a Sky Arts award for literature and receiving praise from figures like Lena Dunham, Rooney now faces the prospect of legal repercussions if she enters the UK, potentially facing arrest. Her publishing house, Faber, has decided to no longer supply her works in the UK, aligning with Rooney's stance. The UK government classifies Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, and Rooney's support for the group has led to her decision to stop selling her books in the country.",
  "summary": "Irish novelist Sally Rooney’s publisher, Faber, has announced it will stop supplying her books to booksellers in the UK. According to MyJoyOnline Ghana, the decision follows Rooney's intention to use her royalties to support Palestine Action, a group that was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government in July 2025. Rooney stated that further publication of her work could constitute a serious criminal offence. While ebook editions have been removed from sale in the UK, Waterstones confirmed to the BBC that booksellers may keep existing physical stock on their shelves.\n\nThe Times of Israel reports the move is a protest against British law that proscribes Palestine Action, which prevents Rooney from transferring book royalties to the group. Although the group is banned in the UK, it is not banned in Ireland, where Rooney lives.\n\nBritish Member of Parliament Ian Byrne has called on the government to overturn the ban on Palestine Action, describing the situation as a disgraceful attack on freedom of expression. ABC News AU characterized Rooney as Ireland’s \"Salinger for the Snapchat generation,\" while Arutz Sheva - Israel National News noted the publisher's decision stems from legal concerns.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sally Rooney's support for Palestine Action causes her books to no longer be sold in the UK.",
    "Rooney joined Palestine Action in August 2025 following an op-ed supporting the group.",
    "The UK government classifies Palestine Action as a terrorist organization."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}