- Sally Rooney’s books have been pulled from UK sale after her publisher Faber determined that passing on her royalties — donated to Palestine Action — could constitute a criminal offence under UK anti-terror legislation.
- Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, both of whom launched their careers through the BBC adaptation of Rooney’s Normal People, have signed a New Statesman open letter condemning the move as censorship.
- Rooney cancelled a planned UK visit amid fears of arrest and says she is “wholly prepared to accept the consequences” of her continued support for Palestine Action, which is not proscribed in her native Republic of Ireland.
Sally Rooney’s Books Banned From UK Sale After Palestine Action Support
Irish literary author Sally Rooney has had her books withdrawn from sale across the United Kingdom after her publisher, Faber, concluded that fulfilling UK publishing contracts on her behalf could expose the company to serious criminal liability. The extraordinary situation stems from Rooney’s public and financial support for Palestine Action, a direct-action protest group that Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Yvette Cooper proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in the summer of 2025. Because Rooney had been directing her UK royalties to the now-proscribed group, Faber determined it was legally unable to continue passing those earnings on to her — and ultimately decided to withdraw her works from the UK market entirely.
Rooney, whose debut breakout Conversations With Friends and global phenomenon Normal People have made her one of the most celebrated novelists of her generation, has been unflinching in her response to the situation. She cancelled a recent trip to the United Kingdom amid genuine fears that she could face arrest upon arrival. In a full written statement released on Wednesday, Rooney explained the sequence of events: “In July 2025, the direct-action protest group Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. 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.” She concluded: “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.”
Faber Publishing Calls Situation “Unconscionable” as It Pulls Rooney’s Catalogue
Faber’s decision to withdraw Rooney’s titles was framed not as a commercial or editorial choice, but as a direct consequence of UK legislation. In a statement to BBC News, the publisher said: “Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work. To sell a writer’s work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher. As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have taken the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format.” Faber also made clear the withdrawal is geographically limited, adding: “We remain the proud publisher of her remarkable body of work, which we will continue to sell in other territories.” The decision means that Rooney’s titles — among the biggest-selling literary fiction books in recent UK publishing history — are no longer available for purchase through UK channels in physical or digital formats.
Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Oscar Winners Sign Open Letter Denouncing Censorship
The literary and creative communities have responded swiftly and loudly. Actors Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones — both of whom owe significant portions of their international profiles to the BBC’s acclaimed adaptation of Rooney’s Normal People — are among a growing number of public figures who have signed an open letter published by the New Statesman protesting the ban. The letter is emphatic in its language: “Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public. Their withdrawal from sale, on the basis of ill-conceived and draconian anti-terror legislation, is an affront to basic principles of free speech and expression so long taken for granted in this country. We categorically reject censorship – whether direct or indirect – and urge the government to change course, amending the legislation which has led us to this point of repressive absurdity.” The list of signatories extends well beyond the Normal People cast, with Oscar-winning performers Jessie Buckley, Tilda Swinton, and Susan Sarandon also lending their names to the protest.
Why This Matters
The Sally Rooney book ban represents a collision between UK counter-terrorism legislation and the principles of free speech, cultural access, and artistic freedom that sit at the heart of democratic publishing. Palestine Action’s proscription as a terrorist organisation under UK law is highly contentious — the group remains entirely legal in the Republic of Ireland, where Rooney is a citizen, highlighting how the same activity can carry vastly different legal weight depending on jurisdiction. Critics argue that UK anti-terror statutes were never designed to be applied to royalty payments made by a novelist, and that using such legislation to effectively ban books sets a chilling precedent for creative expression. Faber’s decision to halt UK supply, while continuing to publish Rooney internationally, also raises urgent commercial questions for the British publishing industry about how broadly proscription laws can reach into ordinary publishing contracts. With a prominent open letter already gathering high-profile signatories and Rooney herself speaking openly to the BBC, pressure on the UK government to revisit the scope of its anti-terror legislation is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why have Sally Rooney’s books been banned from the UK?
- Rooney’s books have not been formally banned by the government, but her publisher Faber has withdrawn them from UK sale because current UK legislation prevents Faber from legally passing Rooney’s UK royalties on to her. Rooney has publicly directed those royalties to Palestine Action, which was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in July 2025. Faber concluded that continuing to supply her work in the UK under these circumstances could constitute a serious criminal offence.
- Is Palestine Action a terrorist organisation in Ireland, where Sally Rooney lives?
- No. Palestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom, but the group is not proscribed or otherwise prohibited in the Republic of Ireland, where Rooney is a citizen and resident. This jurisdictional difference is central to Rooney’s position, as she argues her support for the group is entirely legal under Irish law.
- Which celebrities have signed the New Statesman letter supporting Sally Rooney?
- Among the signatories to the New Statesman open letter are Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, along with Oscar-winning actors Jessie Buckley, Tilda Swinton, and Susan Sarandon. The letter calls Rooney “a writer, not a terrorist” and urges the UK government to amend the legislation that led to the withdrawal of her books from sale.
