Irish novelist Sally Rooney will no longer have her books sold in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action, a group proscribed by the British government, her publisher Faber announced on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The decision, reported by AP News, means Faber can no longer pass on UK earnings to the author.
Rooney’s Statement and the Legal Impasse
Rooney stated she has made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences,
according to AP News. The situation arose after she publicly expressed ongoing support for Palestine Action following the group’s proscription as a terrorist organisation in July 2025. This support, The Guardian reported, led to concerns that fulfilling publishing contracts in the UK could be a serious criminal offence.
In August 2025, Rooney wrote an opinion piece stating her intention to continue supporting Palestine Action, which is not proscribed in the Republic of Ireland. She noted the fulfillment of contracts to publish her work in the UK could then constitute a criminal offense.
We got a Sally Rooney book ban before a single arrest of the more than 2,000 Britons who have participated in Israel’s genocide and now walk our streets.https://t.co/4SVFdg7Iek https://t.co/JZxCmAG2UV
Palestine Action and the UK Ban
The ban, under the Terrorism Act, makes membership or support a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The group had increasingly targeted Israel-linked defense companies. More than 3,700 people have been arrested since the ban, most for holding placards stating I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,
according to The Guardian. Approximately 2,500 have been charged, though none have been tried as a legal challenge to the proscription continues.
Faber’s Response and Rooney’s Position
Faber stated that it could no longer pass on royalties to Rooney due to the legal restrictions, calling it an unconscionable situation
for a publisher. As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have taken the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format,
the publisher said in a statement, as BBC News reported. Rooney confirmed the decision was reached with her full agreement.
Distribution of her books in the UK has been halted across all formats, with existing retail stock being the only copies available, cristinaiglesias.com reported. International markets continue to receive distribution through overseas partners.
I don't care if you like Sally Rooney's books or not. This is about the UK effectively banning an author's work because she is vocal in her support for the Palestinian people. I don't care whether you personally like her. Nor should you. It's about censorship. It's unhinged.
Rooney’s Works and Previous Successes
Sally Rooney, 35, is the author of four novels: Conversations with Friends,
Normal People,
Beautiful World, Where are You
and Intermezzo.
AP News reported her books have sold millions of copies. Normal People
and Conversations With Friends
were adapted for television by the BBC. Conversations with Friends
was also adapted for television.
Legal Challenges and Wider Implications
The proscription of Palestine Action is currently being challenged in the UK Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for next month, according to The Bookseller. Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, described the situation as a new low in the escalating assault on free speech
and stated Rooney took a brave and principled stand,
Common Dreams reported. Ammori said Rooney’s inability to publish in the UK marked a new low
in the assault on free speech. Amnesty International UK’s chief executive, Kerry Moscogiuri, said Rooney’s willingness to accept the consequences was deserving of recognition, as reported by Common Dreams.
Section 15 of the Terrorism Act makes it an offence to provide funds to a proscribed organization knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect the funds could be used for terrorism, The Guardian reported. The situation highlights the complex intersection of political activism, freedom of expression, and legal restrictions, with Rooney’s case becoming a focal point for debate.
Waterstones bookstores are permitted to sell existing inventory on their shelves, cristinaiglesias.com reported.
This is disgraceful and embarrassing for the British government, from arresting pensioners for holding up signs, to draconian treatment of Palestine Action activists, to this. All while arming apartheid Israel's genocide of Palestinians. #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/rhT1wnMTVT
More on Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney 💚🤍🧡🇵🇸👏🏻
More proof of the complete absurdity of the proscription of Palestine Action. What a stain on this government that people in this country are unable to buy and enjoy the work of one of this generation’s greatest writing talents. De-proscribe Palestine Action now. pic.twitter.com/0lvC2WzII8
“Sally Rooney, the bestselling and award-winning Irish author, will no longer be distributed by Faber & Faber due to her support for Palestine Action, the author has said”https://t.co/exRhZ2usgz
Sally Rooney, author of ‘Normal People’ and ‘Conversations with Friends,’ says she is being forced to withdraw her books from being sold in the UK due to her support of the organization Palestine Action:In a statement to The Guardian she said: “In July 2025, the direct-action… pic.twitter.com/TpLZcIer2H
"Her UK and Ireland publisher, Faber said: 'Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work […] we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format.'" https://t.co/XJKhuckeOJ
Irish author Sally Rooney’s books will no longer be sold in the UK after her publisher said it cannot pay her royalties because she supports the banned group Palestine Action. 🔴 More on https://t.co/MbrRGkFKRg pic.twitter.com/igDzVem2OR
Bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney has announced that her books can no longer be sold in the UK due to the British government’s ban on Palestine Action. In a statement on Wednesday, the award-winning Normal People author said that due to her publicly-stated intention to go… pic.twitter.com/AXrK9Y2chK
BREAKING – Irish author Sally Rooney can no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for the activist group Palestine Action, proscribed by London, her publisher Faber said Wednesday.https://t.co/W1r7OpqF73
Huda Ammori: Sally Rooney being unable to publish her work in the UK marks a new low in the escalating assault on free speech caused by the proscription of Palestine Action. She took a brave & principled stand & has refused to compromise her convictions even at considerable cost https://t.co/FX6qslTeFW