In early July 2025, the British government added the direct‑action protest group Palestine Action to its list of terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act. The move meant that any activity deemed to provide financial support to the group could be treated as a criminal offence. The proscription was made by UK authorities, marking a formal shift in how the group is treated under national security legislation.
A month after the ban, in August 2025, Sally Rooney published an opinion piece in which she expressed her intention to continue supporting Palestine Action. She clarified that, while the group is barred in the United Kingdom, it remains legal in the Republic of Ireland. The quote from Rooney captures her stance: she wrote that she intended to go on supporting the group despite its proscribed status in the UK.
The legislation prevents royalties from being transferred to her because any payment would be seen as providing funds to a proscribed organisation. This legal barrier is described as the reason why her UK publisher could no longer comply with existing agreements.
Rooney’s own words confirm that, with her full agreement, the publisher halted distribution of her books in all formats.
After consulting with Rooney and reviewing the legal situation, Faber, the publishing house that releases her novels in the United Kingdom, determined that it could no longer supply her work within the UK market. Rooney’s own words confirm that, with her full agreement, the publisher halted distribution of her books in all formats. The decision was presented as a direct response to the risk of violating terrorism legislation.
Rooney’s books, including the bestselling titles Normal People and Conversations With Friends, had achieved significant commercial success in the United Kingdom prior to the withdrawal. The removal means her works will no longer be sold in any format there, cutting off a major market for the author. The impact is framed as a consequence of the legal restriction rather than a choice based on artistic or commercial considerations.
As of the October 2026 update listed in the chronology, Rooney’s books remain unavailable for purchase in the United Kingdom. The author continues to describe her support for Palestine Action as rooted in a misunderstanding of the group’s status, while UK authorities maintain the organisation’s terrorist designation.