Publisher Faber suspends UK sales of Sally Rooney's books after royalties were tied to a banned Palestinian solidarity group
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Faber & Faber has halted distribution of Sally Rooney's titles in the United Kingdom after she pledged royalties to Palestinian Action, a group the UK has banned under terrorism laws. The move has renewed criticism of the UK's sweeping anti-terror framework and its chilling effect on political speech.
Faber & Faber said it can no longer supply Sally Rooney's books in the United Kingdom after the author pledged to donate royalties to Palestinian Action, an organization the British government has designated as a terrorist group. The publisher said current UK legislation prevents it from passing earnings to Rooney, calling the situation "unconscionable" and highlighting the absurdity of a system that blocks a writer from receiving the proceeds of her own work.
"Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work. To sell a writer's work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher," the statement read.
"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," the publisher added.
Rooney, who has publicly said she believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, announced last year that she would direct proceeds from her books to Palestinian Action. The group was banned in July under the Terrorism Act 2000 after the government cited its involvement in property damage and a pattern of increasingly aggressive tactics.
Human rights officials, including U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, have criticized the ban as disproportionate, arguing it suppresses freedom of expression for supporters who have not engaged in criminal activity. Amnesty International UK has also raised concerns about the breadth of the UK's terrorism definition and the way it can be used to stifle dissent.
Rooney confirmed she has stopped traveling to the UK for events to avoid potential arrest and said she is prepared to accept the consequences of her stance. The legal challenge to the ban is ongoing, with the case set to be heard by the UK's highest court next month.