In brief
Irish author Sally Rooney has agreed with her publisher not to supply her books in the UK after publicly pledging to use her royalties to support Palestine Action, which the UK government has proscribed as a terrorist organisation. The decision follows fears that continuing to ship and sell her titles could be a criminal offence under UK law. While e‑books have already been removed, physical copies remain in stores, with publishers like Waterstones confirming no restriction on existing stock. Rooney, who has sold over six million copies worldwide, said she was prepared to accept the consequences. The move reflects the growing tension between free expression and security laws in the United Kingdom.
Sally Rooney, the Irish novelist best‑known for Normal People, has announced that her works will no longer be supplied to booksellers in the United Kingdom. The decision follows her public commitment to donate royalties to Palestine Action, a group proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government in 2025.
In a statement to BBC News Rooney said that “the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence.” She agreed with her publisher, Faber & Faber, to stop supplying her books in the UK, a move that will also affect e‑book editions which have already been pulled from UK retailers.
Waterstones confirmed that existing physical stock will stay on shelves, with no new copies to be ordered. The publisher added that it will continue to sell Rooney’s titles in other territories “in full agreement with Sally” and remains proud of her literary achievements.
Rooney has sold more than six million copies worldwide, including 2.3 million in the UK according to NielsenIQ BookData. Her debut novel, released in 2018, sparked a best‑selling trilogy that was later adapted into a hit television series featuring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar‑Jones.
The UK’s proscription of Palestine Action, aimed at curbing the group’s direct‑action campaigns against arms companies linked to the Gaza conflict, comes amid growing legal challenges. Over 3,700 arrests have been linked to alleged support for the group, though most charges remain pending as the Supreme Court reviews the ban.
