Sally Rooney books pulled from UK over Palestine Action — SkimNews
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- Sally Rooney confirmed her novels will no longer be supplied to UK booksellers because fulfilling UK publishing contracts could now constitute a "serious criminal offence," and said she is "wholly prepared to accept the consequences"
- Faber told BBC News that UK legislation bars it from passing UK earnings to Rooney, calling it "an unconscionable situation for a publisher" and saying the supply withdrawal was made "in full agreement" with her
- Ebook editions of Rooney's work have already been removed from sale in the UK, though Faber advised there are no restrictions on booksellers keeping existing physical stock on shelves, per Waterstones
- The UK government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in July 2025, citing its "long history" of criminal damage targeting arms companies linked to Israel's war in Gaza
- In August 2025, Rooney wrote in the Irish Times that she would continue using her royalties to support Palestine Action (legal in Ireland) and cancelled a UK trip to collect an award over fears of arrest
- More than 3,700 people have been arrested in the UK over alleged support for Palestine Action, about 2,500 charged, with none yet going to trial as a legal challenge to the proscription heads to the Supreme Court next month
Why it matters: The withdrawal shows how the UK's terrorism proscription law creates a practical financial blockade on a bestselling author — Rooney has sold 6 million books globally, 2.3 million in the UK — because her publisher cannot legally remit her UK earnings. A Supreme Court challenge to the proscription is scheduled for next month, with over 2,500 people already charged and no trials yet completed.
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