Over 150 authors urge UK to halt 'draconian' Palestine Action ban as Rooney sales end

More than 150 writers and personalities have signed an open letter urging the UK government to amend its “draconian” ban on Palestine Action, after Irish author Sally Rooney halted book sales in Britain as a result (AFP via Dawn, https://images.dawn.com/news/1196037).

Rooney and publisher Faber announced last week they had to end UK sales of her books because of her support for the pro-Palestinian group; Faber said it could not legally pass on UK royalties to Rooney, author of Normal People and Intermezzo (AFP via Dawn; Geo, https://www.geo.tv/latest/687634-over-150-authors-urge-uk-to-halt-draconian-palestine-action-ban-as-sally-rooney-sales-end).

The letter is signed by Nobel laureates Annie Ernaux and Anne Carson, actors Paul Mescal and Tilda Swinton, and authors Colm Toibin, Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, Zadie Smith and Julian Barnes (AFP via Dawn; Bangkok Post, https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/3341098/authors-urge-uk-to-halt-draconian-palestine-action-ban).

“Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public,” the letter says, calling the withdrawal “an affront to basic principles of free speech and expression” and adding: “We categorically reject censorship — whether direct or indirect — and urge the government to change course” (AFP via Dawn; Daily Sabah, https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/authors-condemn-uk-palestine-action-ban-after-rooney-book-pull/news).

The Labour government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist group in July 2025; thousands have since been arrested protesting the move and the organisation is appealing (AFP via Dawn). The proscription puts it on the same blacklist as Hamas and Hezbollah, making it illegal in the UK to be part of, support or finance it (AFP via Geo).