Novelist may face arrest for donating royalties to Palestine Action

The best-selling Irish novellist Sally Rooney could face prosecution under the UK’s Terror Act for
donating her royalties from her books and BBC novel adaptations to Palestine Action.

Palestine Action is a British pro-Palestine direct action network, founded in 2020 to protest
the conflict in Gaza. It has gotten involved in protests, occupation of premises, destruction of
property and vandalism to British military bases and aircraft, as they condemn the British
government’s continued supply of arms to Israel. After protestors broke into a military base
and vandalised two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, Palestine Action is now considered a
‘terrorist organisation’ under the Terrorism Act 2000. While the UK government has cited the
group’s actions as evidence that the public does not know the “true nature” of Palestine
Action and has accused it of causing harm, the organisation maintains that its methods are
“non-violent yet disruptive” and insists it has never harmed a human being.

Rooney wrote in The Irish Times on August 16th that she intends to use the “proceeds from
her work and public platform” to fund Palestine Action and to aid Palestinian people in any
way possible. This has caused a severe reaction from the UK government, and Rooney
could be facing prosecution under the UK’s Terrorism Act, which declared Palestine Action
as a “terrorist organisation” on July 5th.

On August 9th, over 465 people were arrested at a protest over the Palestine Action ban in
central London. The majority of those detained were over 60, including a retired British
Colonel and a Catholic Priest. Since it is now an offence to be a member of Palestine Action,
fundraise for it, wear or display items arousing suspicion of membership, those arrested
could now face prosecution or even imprisonment. Someone who invites support or
“expresses an opinion or belief supportive of” Palestine Action and “in doing so is reckless
as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support”
could now face prosecution. These offences now carry a maximum penalty of fines and up to
14 years in prison for membership or inviting support, and up to six months in prison for
displaying supporting items.

This action has faced many discussions and criticisms over the subject of free speech, with
United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, urging the UK to lift this ban and claiming it
is a ‘disturbing’, ‘disproportionate’ and ‘unnecessary’ use of anti-terrorism legislation.
By using the fees from her novels and TV shows or vocalising her support for Palestine
Action at her book signings in Britain, Rooney could potentially face prosecution or even
imprisonment on ‘terror charges’. However, Rooney remains firm in her support and insists
she will continue with her pledge to fund the organisation, claiming that she would “happily
publish this statement in a UK newspaper – if it wasn’t now illegal.”

Rooney published an article in The Irish Times in response to the backlash, proclaiming her
support for Palestine Action and condemning the assassination of renowned journalist Anas
al-Sharif by Israeli forces. Rooney quoted “I feel obliged to state once more that – like the
hundreds of protesters arrested last weekend – I too support Palestine Action. If this makes
me a “supporter of terror” under UK law, so be it.”