Praised Irish writer Sally Rooney has stated that she will keep backing pro-Palestinian organisation Palestine Action, despite it being outlawed as a terrorist group in the UK. In an article for the Irish Times, Normal People author announced she would employ her profile and literary income to “go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide.”
“If that makes me a terror supporter under British law, so be it,” Rooney said, confronting the government directly.
UK Government Stands by Proscription
The UK Home Office formally proscribed Palestine Action in July, labeling it as “more than just a protest group with the occasional stunts.” The group has committed serious criminal offenses, such as high-profile burglaries and property damage, said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
One of its most prominent actions included, members raided RAF Brize Norton, painting two aircraft with red paint, and inflicting damages amounting to £7 million. The group has repeatedly targeted Elbit Systems UK, an Israeli defence company, resulting in repeated arrests and continuous trials.
Cooper referred to what she termed a concerning “Underground Manual” that’s associated with the group, and which supposedly provides instructions on how to identify targets and avoid law enforcement.
“These are not the actions of a legal protest group,” she said.
Rooney’s History of Activism
Rooney has been an outspoken Palestinian rights supporter for many years. In 2021, she declined to have her novel Beautiful World, Where Are You translated into Hebrew by an Israeli publisher on grounds of calls for a cultural boycott of Israel. She subsequently clarified that she would be willing to co-operate with a publisher who shared her political views.
The author stated that her pledge now includes channeling directing fees, including money from the BBC co-productions of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, into Palestine Action.
Wider Backlash and Arrests
Over 700 individuals have been arrested since the group was proscribed on 5 July, with over 500 of those arrested at one demonstration in London last week. Yet, despite the clampdown, supporters have continued vocal, with the argument that the ban discredits free speech and political dissent.
Rooney condemned the actions of the UK government, stating: “The current UK government has knowingly denied its own people fundamental rights and freedoms. in a bid to safeguard its relationship with Israel.”
She threatened “profound” repercussions for cultural and intellectual life within the UK.
