Rooney’s Books Could Be Barred in UK Judge Informed

A judge was informed that Sally Rooney's books might not be sold in the UK due to the Palestine Action prohibition.

Because Palestine Action is prohibited by terrorism laws, Irish author Sally Rooney has informed the High Court that it is "almost certain" she will not be able to publish new novels in the UK and that she may have to withdraw her existing works.

According to Rooney, UK law may prevent the BBC and her British publisher from paying her earnings because they run the risk of being charged with financing terrorism.

She declared in August that she will utilise her income "to go on supporting Palestine Action."

The home secretary accused the gang of seriously damaging property, leading to their ban in July. In the High Court, its co-founder is contesting that prohibition, claiming it violates the right to protest.

The movement to lift the restriction has received backing from the author of Normal People, which was turned into one of the most popular BBC dramas in recent years.

Rooney expressed her belief that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza in two witness statements submitted to the High Court. She also stated that Palestine Action's actions in the UK stemmed from a "long and proud tradition of civil disobedience - the deliberate breaking of laws as an act of protest."

a"I myself have publicly advocated the use of direct action, including property sabotage, in the cause of climate justice," she continues. It makes sense that I would advocate for the same variety of strategies in the fight against genocide.

Israel has consistently maintained that its actions in Gaza are legitimate as a form of self-defence and denied that they constitute genocide.

Rooney said that the terrorist laws' prohibition on Palestine Action had far-reaching effects on her right to free speech and her career as an author.

She clarified that she occasionally gets royalties from the BBC's adaptations.

She stated in an August interview in the Irish Times that she planned to utilise the proceeds "to go on supporting Palestine Action."

After making that declaration, she claimed to have been informed that paying her for those televised dramatisations may violate anti-terrorism regulations.

The independent producer of the two BBC adaptations of her books had issued that caution. It informed her agent that it had received "unambiguous legal advice" stating that it would be illegal to send Rooney money if it knew or believed that she was funding Palestine Action with the earnings from the TV dramas.

"It is therefore unclear whether any UK company can continue to make payments to me, even when it had agreed to do so," Rooney stated.

Rooney informed the court that both her publisher's and her rights as an artist were impacted by this legal ambiguity.

"If ... Faber & Faber Limited are legally prohibited from paying me the royalties I am owed, my existing works may have to be withdrawn from sale," she stated.

"I am one of the best-selling writers of the past ten years in Britain, where my novels have been influential and well-liked.

In September, Rooney made it known that she thought her attitude would prevent her from visiting the UK.

"I am and will remain a steadfast advocate for Palestine Action. I will essentially be barred from speaking at any upcoming public gatherings in the UK if that support is made illegal.

The hearing runs through Thursday, and the last day of submissions is the following week.