Sally Rooney’s Books Pulled From U.K. Shelves Amid Controversy Over Palestine Action Support

Normal People author Sally Rooney has shared that her books will no longer be available for sale in the U.K. because of her support for protest group Palestine Action.

Given that the British government has outlawed Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, Rooney‘s publisher Faber confirmed to the Associated Press that it “has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on U.K. earnings to Sally Rooney for her work.”

In a statement Faber 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 U.K. in any format.“

Faber’s decision to withdraw her books from sale in the U.K. was made “with my full agreement,“ Rooney says.

“I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences,” Rooney said in a statement, according to the AP. Proceeds from her novels and TV fees would be used to continue to support the group, Rooney shared.

The decision follows the author writing a column in The Irish Times last August titled, “Sally Rooney: I support Palestine Action. If this makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it.”

The U.K. government banned the Palestine Action group after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base last June to protest British military support for Israel’s military offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

In February, Britain’s High Court ruled that the government’s decision to outlaw the protest group was unlawful. The ban was kept in place pending another hearing to overturn it.

Among her work, Rooney has penned bestsellers Conversations with Friends and Normal People, both of which were adapted for limited television series. Normal People starred Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal whereas the cast of Conversations with Friends included Alison Oliver, Joe Alwyn, Sasha Lane and Jemima Kirke.

Rooney‘s additional published works include Beautiful World, Where are You and Intermezzo.