Author Sally Rooney has stopped the sale of her books in the UK due to her ongoing financial support for the group Palestine Action.
Author Sally Rooney will no longer sell her books in the UK. This decision follows her public support for the group Palestine Action. The UK government now classifies this group as a terrorist organization.
Also, Rooney intends to keep donating her royalties to the group. She stated this action could lead to serious criminal charges in the UK. She chose to stop the supply of her books to avoid breaking the law.
Then, her publisher Faber agreed with this choice. The company cannot legally pay Rooney for any sales made within the UK. They believe it is wrong to sell books without paying the author.
Next, digital versions of her books disappeared from UK stores immediately. However, shops may still sell the physical copies they currently hold in stock. Waterstones confirmed that existing books remain on shelves for now.
Meanwhile, Rooney has sold over six million copies of her novels worldwide. Her famous works include Normal People and Intermezzo. These books will no longer reach new readers in the UK market.
After that, the author explained her position clearly. She stated that she values honesty regarding her personal beliefs. She accepts the consequences of her choices regarding the protest group.
Still, she noted that Palestine Action is not a banned group in her home country of Ireland. She continues to support their mission despite the legal risks across the border. She even skipped a UK award ceremony to avoid potential arrest.
Finally, the publisher remains proud of her work. They will continue to sell her books in other countries. They only stopped the UK distribution because of the current legal situation.
As a result, this situation highlights ongoing tensions over free speech. Supporters of the author call her stance brave. Meanwhile, the UK government maintains its position on the protest group.