Sally Rooney Withdraws Books From UK Market After Pledging Royalties to Palestine Action
Sally Rooney stopped selling her books in the UK after pledging royalties to Palestine Action.
70-100 BALANCED · 40-69 MIXED · 0-39 LEANING.
Aljazeera
Sally Rooney stopped selling her books in the UK after pledging royalties to Palestine Action. The UK government labeled the group a terrorist organization in July 2025. Faber stopped supplying her books. The publisher cannot legally transfer earnings to her because of her support for the group. Rooney lives in Ireland, where the group remains legal. She cancelled a planned UK trip because of arrest concerns. The UK Supreme Court will hear an appeal against the ban in November 2026.
Context
Huda Ammori, a co-founder of the group, challenged the ban. The UK Supreme Court will hear the appeal in November 2026.
Supportive perspectives
Sally Rooney stated she is prepared to accept the consequences of her beliefs regarding her support for Palestine Action. This reflects her willingness to prioritize her political stance over commercial access to the UK market.
Rights groups and some public figures have criticized the UK's ban on Palestine Action. They argue that the government's designation criminalizes dissent, effectively silencing opposition to specific foreign policy stances.
Palestine Action is not a banned organization in Ireland, where Rooney resides. Her support for the group is lawful in her home country, highlighting the jurisdictional conflict created by the UK's specific proscription.
Palestine Action's stated goal is to end global participation in what it describes as Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime. Supporters view the group's actions against weapons manufacturers as a necessary form of protest against these policies.
Critical perspectives
The UK government designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in July 2025. This legal status makes it a criminal offense to provide financial support or funding to the group, which directly impacts Rooney's royalty payments.
Faber announced it will stop supplying works by author Sally Rooney in the UK. The publisher stated it cannot legally transfer earnings to Rooney because she pledged royalties to a group banned in the UK.
Rooney cancelled a planned trip to the UK because she feared arrest. This cancellation illustrates the legal risks of supporting an entity that the UK government has proscribed.
Palestine Action targeted weapons factories owned by the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. The government issued a ban following a series of protests regarding the war in Gaza.
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