Sally Rooney’s books withdrawn in UK over support for banned pro-Palestinian group

Acclaimed Irish author Sally Rooney's books are no longer being distributed for sale in the United Kingdom, a decision made in agreement with her publisher, Faber. This development stems from Rooney's public support for Palestine Action, a direct-action group that the UK government designated as a proscribed terrorist organization in July 2025. The publisher stated that under current British anti-terrorism legislation, it could not legally transfer Rooney's earnings from UK sales to her, making continued distribution untenable.

Rooney has openly expressed her intention to donate proceeds from her novels and their adaptations to Palestine Action, a group whose stated goal is to challenge global participation in what it describes as Israel's "genocidal and apartheid regime." In September 2025, she notably cancelled a trip to London to accept a Sky Arts Award for literature, citing concerns over potential arrest due to her solidarity with the now-banned organization.

This situation has ignited further debate regarding artistic freedom and the consequences of authors' political positions. While Rooney's earlier decision in 2021 to decline an Israeli publisher for a Hebrew translation of her novel, "Beautiful World, Where Are You?," was tied to her support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the current withdrawal in the UK directly relates to specific domestic legislation concerning a proscribed group.