Sally Rooney says she can ‘no longer’ publish work in UK over Palestine Action support
‘Normal People’ author said that publishing her work in the UK could now ‘constitute a serious criminal offence’
Irish novelist Sally Rooney has said that her publisher can no longer sell her work within the UK due to her voicing support for proscribed protest group Palestine Action.
The Normal People writer said in August 2025 that she intended to use earnings from her work and her public platform to support Palestine Action, which the British government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July that year.
In a new statement on Wednesday (14 October), Rooney revealed that while the group are not a prohibited group in the Republic of Ireland, where she is based, her novels being sold in the UK would “constitute a serious criminal offence” due to her backing of Palestine Action.
“In July 2025, the direct-action protest group Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK,” she told The Guardian. “The following month, I wrote an opinion piece expressing my intention to go on supporting Palestine Action, which is not a proscribed or otherwise prohibited group here in the Republic of Ireland.
“As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence. After a process of consultation and deliberation, and with my full agreement, my publisher Faber has therefore determined that it can no longer supply my work within the UK.
“I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences.”
