Sally Rooney books withdrawn from sale in UK over Palestine Action support

What the report says

Irish novelist Sally Rooney’s books have been withdrawn from sale in the United Kingdom after her public support for Palestine Action, a group banned by the UK government as a terrorist organisation, according to Al Jazeera. Rooney’s publisher, Faber, said the move was linked to “circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney,” describing the situation as unacceptable for a publisher.

Al Jazeera reported that ebook editions of Rooney’s work were removed from UK sale, while some printed copies remain available in shops. Rooney told the BBC that continuing to publish her books could amount to a serious criminal offence, and said she had tried to be open about her views and was prepared to face the consequences. Her comments follow her earlier statements that she would continue backing Palestine Action despite the legal risks.

The development comes amid wider debate over the UK’s proscription of the group in July 2025, after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and sprayed paint on military aircraft. Rooney is known for novels including Normal People and Conversations With Friends, both of which became major bestsellers and were adapted for television. Politicians including Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell criticized the ban’s impact on access to her work, framing the case as part of the broader controversy over protest, free expression and the handling of Palestine-related activism in Britain.