- Opinion
- 19 Aug 25
Reactions pour in as UK government warns Sally Rooney could face arrest under Terrorism Act for support of Palestine Action
The BBC has faced pressure from pro-Israel organisations to pull TV adaptions of Rooney's novels Normal People and Conversations with Friends from their platform.
The UK government has warned that Sally Rooney could face arrest under the UK Terrorism Act after she pledged to use proceeds from her work to support Palestine Action.
In a piece published in the Irish Times on Saturday, the Normal People and Intermezzo author said she will continue to support Palestine Action "in whatever way I can," including residuals from BBC adaptations of her books.
"If this makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it," Rooney wrote.
"I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action... If the British state considers this 'terrorism', then perhaps it should investigate the shady organisations that continue to promote my work and fund my activities, such as WH Smith and the BBC."
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in July. Proscription made showing support for the direct action network a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Following Rooney's remarks, a spokesperson of the British Prime Minister warned that financially supporting Palestine Action is an offence under the Terrorism Act.
"There is a difference between showing support for a proscribed organisation, which is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and legitimate protest in support of a cause," said the spokesperson without directly mentioning Rooney.
"Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and obviously the police will...implement the law."
Lawyer and writer Sadakat Kadri confirmed to The Guardian that Rooney is at risk of being charged with terrorism if she uses proceeds received in the UK to fund a group proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
"Receiving money with the intention of using it to support terrorism is an offence under section 15 of the 2000 act," Kadri said, adding, "That means Rooney could be arrested without a warrant as a 'terrorist.'"
When asked if Roney could face legal repercussions for public appearances in the UK, Kadri said "there's certainly a risk she'd fall foul" of the law, and that if she were to express views "in terms of condemning the war crimes being committed in Gaza" then "an arguable case for prosecution could be made out."
British pro-Israel organisation Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) announced on X yesterday that it reported Rooney to the UK Counter Terrorism Police.
However, some social media users questioned the validity of the legal threats.
While she could have been investigated by Counter Terrorism Police in the UK if she had made her statements there, her comments were written and published in Ireland. Rooney is also a citizen of Ireland, not the UK, and Palestine Action has not been proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Ireland.
One social media user expressed shock at the prospect of UK police arresting the Irish author, writing on X, "Remind me how well it went the last time the British imposed their laws on irish in terms of stopping political violence?"
Isn’t she Irish? Living in Ireland? Remind me how well it went the last time the British imposed their laws on irish in terms of stopping political violence? https://t.co/T3NFecRZzm
— sarah 🇵🇸 (@sazza_jay) August 19, 2025
Another user warned that UK police threatening an Irish citizen for comments made in Ireland could violate measures set by the Good Friday Agreement, writing, "This is a risk to the GFA by the way."
Some UK groups have taken to targeting the companies associated with Rooney rather than threatening the author herself.
According to The Times, CAA have demanded the BBC review their relationship with Rooney and consider pulling the TV adaptations of Normal People and Conversations with Friends from BBC iPlayer.
CCA reportedly also warned Faber & Faber (Rooney's publisher) and Netflix (which currently streams Normal People) that they may have to cut ties with Rooney if she financially supports Palestine Action.
The BBC said it is not currently working with Rooney on any upcoming projects, and that what novelists say and do with money they have previously received is a matter for them. A BBC spokesperson said in a statement, "Matters relating to proscribed organisations are for the relevant authorities."
At the time of writing, Rooney has not publicly commented since her Irish Times piece was published.