Irish author Sally Rooney
Irish author Sally Rooney Sally Rooney/Instagram

Acclaimed Irish author Sally Rooney has reignited political controversy after confirming she will use her BBC adaptation royalties and UK book sales proceeds to support Palestine Action, a group banned under UK terrorism laws.

Rooney made the statement in an Irish Times op-ed on 16 August 2025, days after large-scale protests in London saw hundreds arrested. The move raises questions about whether her financial backing could place her in breach of UK counter-terrorism legislation.

Rooney's Irish Times Declaration

In her opinion piece, the Normal People author said she would continue to support Palestine Action despite its proscription by the UK government in July. Rooney explained she would direct money from her books sold in Britain and residual payments from BBC adaptations of her work towards the group.

She wrote: 'I would happily publish this statement in a UK newspaper – but that would now be illegal.' Rooney added: 'If this makes me a "supporter of terror" under UK law, so be it.' She justified her pledge by framing her stance as opposition to what she called 'genocide' in Gaza, a term not recognised by the UK government but widely used by campaigners.

What Is Palestine Action?

Palestine Action was founded in 2020 and is known for direct action targeting arms factories and companies supplying equipment to Israel. The group gained prominence for occupying sites connected with weapons production.

On 23 June 2025, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that she had decided to add Palestine Action to the list of proscribed organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000. The government said its activities had reached the terrorism threshold due to escalating actions and a willingness to use violence.

Legal Implications of Proscription

The proscription of Palestine Action makes membership, fundraising or inviting support for the organisation a criminal offence in the United Kingdom.

Under the legislation, inviting support for a banned group can carry a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. Displaying support items, such as flags or slogans, may lead to six months' imprisonment or a fine. Critics have described the move as one of the most significant restrictions on civil protest in recent years.

Protests and the 1,000-Person Target

The controversy around Rooney's statement comes against the backdrop of large demonstrations in Parliament Square earlier in August. Between 600 and 1,000 activists gathered with placards reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action'.

Police made hundreds of arrests during the protest, with many detained under the new counter-terrorism powers. Organisers have called for a coordinated protest involving at least 1,000 participants to test whether mass arrests could be carried out.

Political and Legal Fallout

The Home Secretary has defended the ban as a necessary response to groups that pose a public safety risk. The Metropolitan Police has indicated further prosecutions are likely for those who openly support Palestine Action.

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori has been granted permission to legally challenge the government's decision to proscribe the group. Civil liberties campaigners and UN human rights experts have criticised the ban, warning it risks curbing free expression and peaceful protest.

Rooney's History of Pro-Palestine Activism

This is not the first time Sally Rooney's pro-Palestine stance has drawn international headlines. In 2021, she declined a Hebrew translation deal for her novel Beautiful World, Where Are You with the Israeli publisher Modan, citing adherence to the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

Throughout 2024 and 2025, she has been among authors and artists supporting cultural boycotts of Israeli institutions. Her latest declaration, however, places her in direct conflict with UK law and risks legal scrutiny if her financial contributions are pursued.

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