In brief
Irish author Sally Rooney has agreed with her publisher to withdraw all UK editions of her novels after she said she would continue to support the proscribed group Palestine Action. The decision follows the UK’s 2025 ban of the group, making sales of Rooney’s works a potential serious criminal offence. While e‑books have already been removed, physical stock will remain on store shelves, though new supplies are halted. Rooney’s six‑million‑copy bestseller "Normal People" and her latest novel "Intermezzo" had seen strong UK sales, highlighting the significant commercial and cultural impact of the move. The case underscores the clash between artistic freedom and state security legislation in the UK’s publishing landscape.
Renowned Irish novelist Sally Rooney has announced that her books will no longer be supplied to UK booksellers after she said she would continue to support the proscribed group Palestine Action.
The UK government proscribed Palestine Action in 2025, labeling it a terrorist organisation. Rooney’s statements in August 2025 that she would use her royalties to support the group, and her refusal to travel to the UK for an award, made her publicly supporting the group an offence under the ban.
In a statement to BBC News, Rooney explained that further publication of her work could now constitute a serious criminal offence and that she was prepared to accept the legal consequences. Consequently, her publisher, Faber, agreed it could no longer supply her books within the UK in any format.
E‑book editions have already been removed from sale in the UK, though existing physical stock remains in stores; Waterstones confirmed that stock shelves may still display her titles. Faber said it will continue to sell her work in other territories.
Rooney has sold more than six million books worldwide and 2.3 million copies in the UK, according to NielsenIQ BookData. Her title "Normal People" was adapted into a hit television series, and her other novels include "Intermezzo", "Conversations with Friends" and "Beautiful World, Where Are You".
The decision has sparked debate over freedom of expression in the publishing industry and the reach of anti‑terrorism legislation. Palestinian political groups have called the withdrawal a sign of escalating pressure on dissenting voices. More than 3,700 people have been arrested in the UK for alleged support of Palestine Action, with 2,500 charged but none yet tried; a Supreme Court challenge to the proscription is expected next month.
Rooney’s bold stand has drawn praise from Palestine Action co‑founder Huda Ammori, who called it a “brave and principled” response. The book withdrawal may set a precedent for how political activism intersects with commercial distribution in the UK.
