Sally Rooney books withdrawn from UK distribution over Palestine Action support

Irish novelist Sally Rooney and her publisher Faber have agreed to stop supplying her books to booksellers in the United Kingdom, BBC News and The Bookseller reported. The decision follows Rooney's public support for Palestine Action, which is a proscribed organisation in the UK. The Guardian and BBC News reported that Rooney can no longer receive royalties from British sales and has withdrawn her books from the UK market. [1][3][4]

Rooney stated to BBC News that further publication of her work in the UK could constitute a serious criminal offence, leading to the decision to cease distribution. BBC News and The Guardian reported that Rooney previously stated she intended to continue using her royalties to support the direct action network. Rooney added that she had made every effort to be honest about her beliefs and was prepared to accept the consequences. [1][3]

The Guardian and Literary Hub both reported that Rooney cancelled a scheduled trip to the UK due to fears of arrest. Palestine Action is a direct action group founded in 2020 by Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard. The organisation is proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, making material support or displaying items in support of the group a criminal offence in the UK. [3][5][13][15]

Rooney is the author of Conversations with Friends, Normal People, Beautiful World, Where Are You, and Intermezzo. Her novels have sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over 47 languages. In 2021, Rooney declined an offer from Israeli publisher Modan to translate Normal People into Hebrew in support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign. [1][12][14]