Sally Rooney will no longer be able to sell her books in the UK
The writer supports ‘Palestine Action’, a pro-Palestinian organisation that has been declared illegal in the country.
‘There is something frightening about the way we carry on with our normal lives whilst atrocities are taking place all around us,’ wrote Sally Rooney in her book *Where Are You, Beautiful World?*. When the book was published in 2021, the Irish writer refused to sell the rights to Israeli publishers in support of ‘Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions’, the international movement calling for a boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel and its policy of oppression of the Palestinian people. Rooney took the same stance with her book ‘Interlude’, published in 2024.
On Wednesday 14 October, her publisher – ‘Faber’ – announced that ‘current UK legislation prevents Faber from paying Sally Rooney the royalties from UK sales. Therefore, in full agreement with Sally, we have taken the decision to no longer distribute her work in the UK in any format’.
But what does English law have to do with it?
The writer is an outspoken supporter of ‘Palestine Action’, a pro-Palestinian organisation that promotes direct action – including vandalism and occupations – against businesses and institutions deemed to be supporting Israel. Precisely because of its modus operandi, the organisation was declared illegal in the United Kingdom in 2025, under the country’s anti-terrorism laws. Rooney’s commitment to the cause of ‘Palestine Action’ also includes financial support: last year, the Irishman announced his intention to donate the proceeds from his books and the BBC television adaptations of ‘Normal People’ and ‘Talking It Over with Friends’ to the organisation. And under the law, it is a criminal offence to receive money with the intention of using it to support any form of terrorism. Rooney, aware of the possible consequences of her pro-Palestinian stance, has recently avoided taking part in festivals and book launches in the UK. In light of the latest developments, the writer has reiterated – via a press release – her support for ‘Palestine Action’ and her willingness to ‘accept the consequences’ of her actions.
