Faber Stops Supplying Sally Rooney's Books in the UK, Citing Terrorism Law Over Her Palestine Action Support

What happened? Faber, Sally Rooney's publisher in the UK and Ireland, has stopped supplying her books in the UK in any format. In a statement on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the London house said "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," Faber said. The decision was taken "in full agreement with Sally," and Faber will keep selling her novels in other territories. It added that it has no further comment.

Why the books are coming off sale

The law in question is the UK's Terrorism Act. In July 2025 the British government proscribed the direct-action protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The following month Rooney wrote an opinion piece in the Irish Times saying she would keep supporting the group, using proceeds from her work. Palestine Action is not banned in the Republic of Ireland, where she lives.

Rooney explained her side in a statement given to the Guardian and BBC News. Because of that support, she said, "the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence." Faber made the call after what she described as consultation and deliberation, and she agreed with it. "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."

Which part of the law? The Guardian names Section 15. Put simply, it's a crime to hand over money or property if you know, or have good reason to suspect, it may go toward terrorism. Up to 14 years in prison. This isn't new territory for her, either. She said last year that the independent producer behind the BBC's Normal People and Conversations With Friends had warned her that paying her for those shows could fall foul of terrorism law if it knew or suspected the money would go to Palestine Action. And she skipped a UK trip to pick up an award because she feared being arrested.

What happens to the books already in shops

Not much, for now. According to the BBC, the ebook editions have already been taken off sale in the UK. Physical copies are a different matter. Waterstones told the BBC that Faber had advised there are no restrictions on booksellers keeping their current stock on the shelves, and the Guardian found her novels still on sale in central London on Wednesday afternoon.

Some shops moved fast. John Clegg of the London Review Bookshop told the Guardian he "ordered more as soon as I saw the news," adding: "People are going to want them and we're not going to be able to get them through Faber."

The four novels involved are Conversations With Friends, Normal People, Beautiful World, Where Are You and Intermezzo. The BBC, citing NielsenIQ BookData, says Rooney has sold more than six million copies worldwide, 2.3 million of them in the UK.

Reaction

Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action who is leading the legal challenge to the ban, called it "a new low in the escalating assault on free speech." Kerry Moscogiuri, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, told the Guardian that "writers should not find their books disappearing from shelves because of their political beliefs," and warned that others might decide they "cannot afford to speak out."

The bigger legal fight isn't over. More than 3,700 people are believed to have been arrested in the UK over alleged support for the group, and about 2,500 have been charged. None have gone to trial yet. The challenge to the proscription is due to be heard by the UK Supreme Court next month.

Why it matters for authors

Royalties are part of the contract. Faber's reasoning is simple. If a publisher can't lawfully pay an author for sales, it won't make the sales. Most writers will never face a terrorism law, but this shows how much a book's availability in a market depends on the publisher being able to pay the author there.

Territory matters. Faber says it will keep selling Rooney's work in other territories. When one country's law differs from its neighbour's, the same book can be on sale in Dublin and unavailable from its publisher in London.

Free expression groups are watching. PT has covered the IPA's 2026 report on freedom to publish. This case is unusual: the books are not banned for what they say. They are off sale because of a law about who can be paid.

Sources

• Faber: Faber Statement: 14 October 2026
• The Guardian: Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action support (October 14, 2026)
• BBC News: Sally Rooney books withdrawn in UK over Palestine Action support (October 14, 2026)