One of Our Most Celebrated Authors Has Had Her Books Effectively Banned in the U.K. This Is Absurd.
UK bookstores are withdrawing novels by Irish author Sally Rooney after her publisher, Faber, halted sales citing counterterrorism laws. The move follows Rooney's support for Palestine Action, a group banned in the UK in July 2025. Rooney stated she can no longer receive royalties from British sales and has cancelled a planned trip to the UK due to fear of arrest. While some describe the move as an effective ban, the publisher attributes the action to legal requirements regarding the support of designated terrorist organizations.
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- ✓ Sally Rooney's books are no longer being sold or supplied to retailers in the UK.
- ✓ The sales halt is linked to Rooney's support for Palestine Action.
- ✓ Palestine Action was banned in July 2025.
- ✓ Faber cited counterterrorism law as the basis for halting sales.
What changed
Faber explicitly cited counterterrorism law as the reason for halting sales.
Live updates
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Faber Halts UK Sales of Sally Rooney Novels Over Palestine Action Support
UK bookstores are withdrawing novels by Irish author Sally Rooney after her publisher, Faber, halted sales citing counterterrorism laws. The move follows Rooney's support for Palestine Action, a group banned in the UK in July 2025. Rooney stated she can no longer receive royalties from British sales and has cancelled a planned trip to the UK due to fear of arrest. While some describe the move as an effective ban, the publisher attributes the action to legal requirements regarding the support of designated terrorist organizations.
Why it matters
The situation centers on the UK's legal definition of terrorist organizations and the consequences for individuals who support them. This case highlights a conflict between national security laws and artistic expression.
What is confirmed
- Sally Rooney's books are no longer being sold or supplied to retailers in the UK.
- The sales halt is linked to Rooney's support for Palestine Action.
- Palestine Action was banned in July 2025.
- Faber cited counterterrorism law as the basis for halting sales.
- Rooney cancelled a trip to the UK because she fears arrest.
- Rooney is unable to receive royalties from sales within the UK.
What to watch next
- Official government confirmation of potential charges against Rooney
- Legal challenges to the UK's definition of terrorist organizations
- Statements from other UK publishers regarding author support for banned groups
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (14)
- Reuters — Sally Rooney's books no longer sold in UK over support for banned pro-Palestinian group
- The New York Times — Sally Rooney Says Her Novels Will No Longer Be Sold in Britain
- The Guardian — Sally Rooney’s stand on Palestine is brave and humane
- AP News — UK bookstores scramble as Sally Rooney's novels are withdrawn because she supports Palestine Action
- Slate — One of Our Most Celebrated Authors Has Had Her Books Effectively Banned in the U.K. How Did We Get Here?
- The Times — ‘Actions have consequences’: minister weighs in on Sally Rooney row
- Publishers Weekly — Faber Halts Sally Rooney’s U.K. Sales, Citing Counterterrorism Law
- www.cbsnews.com — Sally Rooney's books withdrawn in U.K. over author's support ...
- www.theguardian.com — Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in the UK ...
- slate.com — One of Our Most Celebrated Authors Has Had Her Books ...
- theconversation.com — Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from sale in the UK ...
- uk.news.yahoo.com — Sally Rooney’s books withdrawn from UK over her support of ...
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