Faber stops distributing Sally Rooney's books in UK over Palestine Action ban

Faber, the publisher of Irish novelist Sally Rooney, has announced it will no longer distribute her books in the United Kingdom. The decision follows the UK government's proscription of the direct-action protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in July 2025. Rooney, the author of Normal People and Conversations With Friends, publicly stated her intention to continue supporting the group, which remains legal in the Republic of Ireland.

Legal Constraints on Royalties

The core of the dispute lies in the distribution of earnings. Under Section 15 of the UK Terrorism Act, it is an offence to provide money or other property if a person "knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that it will or may be used for the purposes of terrorism." This carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Rooney stated that her public support for Palestine Action meant she could no longer receive royalties from UK sales. "As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence," Rooney said in a statement provided to the Guardian. "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."

Faber confirmed the decision in a statement on its website. "Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work," the publisher said. "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."

Impact on Sales and Broadcast Rights

Rooney’s works have achieved significant commercial success in the UK. Normal People has sold more than 1 million copies, while Conversations With Friends and Beautiful World, Where Are You have each sold more than 500,000 copies. The BBC adaptations of Normal People and Conversations With Friends were also highly viewed, with Normal People becoming the broadcaster’s most-streamed series of 2020, racking up 62.7 million views.

Rooney noted that she had previously been advised by the independent producer of the TV dramatisations that any payment to her for those series would be a breach of terrorism laws if the producer knew or suspected she was using royalties to fund Palestine Action. Although the series were broadcast before the ban, the legal risk regarding ongoing payments remains.

Broader Context of Proscription

Since Palestine Action was banned in July 2025, more than 3,700 people are believed to have been arrested in the UK for alleged support of the group. Most arrests relate to holding placards with the slogan: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." Approximately 2,500 people have been charged, though none have been tried as a legal challenge to the ban continues. The case is scheduled to be heard by the supreme court next month.

Rooney previously cancelled a trip to the UK to accept an award due to fear of arrest. In a high court statement supporting the legal challenge to the proscription, she warned that her books could disappear from UK stores and that the publication of new works in the UK could be prevented.

Why it matters

This case highlights the practical legal consequences for authors and publishers when an organization is proscribed under the Terrorism Act. It demonstrates how restrictions on funding can extend to royalty payments, effectively halting the commercial distribution of an author's work in a major market. The situation underscores the tension between freedom of expression and anti-terrorism legislation, a conflict currently being tested in the UK supreme court.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action support | UK news | The Guardian
• timesofisrael.com: Publisher says Sally Rooney books cannot be sold in UK due to Palestine Action ban | The Times of Israel
• thebookseller.com: Faber to no longer distribute Sally Rooney in UK due to Palestine Action legislation

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.