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UK bookstores scramble as Sally Rooney's novels pulled over Palestine Action support
France 24 • • world
Key Points:
- Irish novelist Sally Rooney's UK publisher, Faber, has stopped distributing her books in the UK after she announced she would donate proceeds to Palestine Action, a group banned as a terrorist organization by the UK government.
- The ban on Palestine Action criminalizes membership and support, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison, causing confusion among British booksellers about the legality of selling Rooney's works.
- Palestine Action engages in direct action against UK military support for Israel, including damaging property linked to the Israeli military-industrial complex, but denies advocating violence against people.
- The UK government's proscription of Palestine Action has sparked criticism from civil liberties groups over free speech and protest rights, with thousands arrested under the Terrorism Act, though no convictions have occurred.
- The legal status of Palestine Action remains contested, with the UK Supreme Court set to hear a challenge next month, while the Labour government balances recognition of Palestinian statehood with maintaining the group's ban.
