Are authors losing their freedom of speech? Why Sally Rooney’s books could be gone from UK bookshelves forever

Literary icon Sally Rooney is being forced to withdraw her novels from UK bookshelves as a result of her support for the proscribed organisation Palestine Action.

Rooney is an Irish cultural phenomenon, with four best-selling novels (Conversations with Friends; Normal People; Beautiful World, Where are You; and Intermezzo), two of which have become striking screen adaptations, and a sweeping array of awards to her name. Through her distinct use of literary minimalism, she captures the messy reality of modern-day relationships that are stuck between profound intimacy and chronic miscommunication in an increasingly digital world. Her work stands at the forefront of the surge in popularity of contemporary Irish fiction.

On 5 July 2025 Palestine Action was banned in the UK, meaning that under Section 15 of the UK Terrorism Act 2000, membership or support of the group became a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The following month, Rooney wrote an opinion piece explaining her plans to use proceeds from her sales to support Palestine Action. Of note, Palestine Action is not a banned group in the Republic of Ireland.

More than 3,700 people are thought to have been arrested in the UK over alleged support of Palestine Action

In September of that same year Rooney cancelled her trip to London to accept the Sky Arts Award for Literature in fear of arrest. In November, Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori ⁠challenged the ban. The High Court ruled in her favour in February 2026, before the Court of Appeal overturned that decision in June. More than 3,700 people are thought to have been arrested in the UK over alleged support of Palestine Action. About 2,500 have been charged, although none have gone to trial as a legal challenge to the proscription continues and will be heard by the Supreme Court next month.

On 14 October Rooney’s publisher Faber reported to the Guardian that they would “no longer supply her works in the UK in any format”, though it would sell her works elsewhere. Faber described that “current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work”. In her own statement, Rooney confirmed that: “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.”

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori said that Rooney had taken “a brave and principled stand from the moment plans to ban Palestine Action were announced”, adding that “Sally Rooney being unable to publish her work in the UK marks a new low in the escalating assault on free speech caused by the proscription of Palestine Action”. In a similar vein, Kerry Moscogiuri, the Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, said: “Whatever one’s views on Palestine Action, we should all be concerned when laws intended to combat terrorism end up silencing artistic freedom and the ability to engage in peaceful political dissent.”

Moscogiuri continued, highlighting the necessity for authors to be transparent about their beliefs: “Writers should not find their books disappearing from shelves because of their political beliefs. Nor should people have to choose between expressing their conscience and pursuing their livelihoods.” She concluded with the argument that “Sally Rooney’s willingness to accept the personal consequences of her convictions deserves recognition. There is a real danger that others, seeing the price she has paid, will decide they cannot afford to speak out.”

The withdrawal of Rooney’s work from the UK literary market highlights that artistic freedom remains fragile… in the complex web of cross-border politics

This reminds me of my own study of free speech in literature, dating back to John Milton’s 1644 pamphlet Areopagitica where Milton argues against censorship and defends freedom of expression. The controversy surrounding Rooney demonstrates how censorship still operates in modern society. Nearly four centuries later, the withdrawal of Rooney’s work from the UK literary market highlights that artistic freedom remains fragile, easily tangled in the complex web of cross-border politics.

The Supreme Court is due ⁠to hear an appeal on November 4 and 5. The outcome of the hearing will be the final arbiter of whether Palestine Action remains banned, and decide the fate of Sally Rooney’s UK catalogue.