The controversy surrounding Sally Rooney and Palestine Action highlights the potential constraints of counter-terrorism legislation on lawful commerce and political expression. According to local reports, the Home Secretary announced in June 2025 that Palestine Action would be proscribed under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000, following a series of direct-action incidents.
The proscription took effect on 5 July and permits the Home Secretary to proscribe an organisation believed to be “concerned in terrorism,” including ideologically motivated action involving serious property damage. This move has renewed debate about the boundary between legitimate activism and conduct falling within terrorism legislation.
Sections 11–13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 criminalise membership, inviting support, and fundraising for proscribed groups, which can bring political solidarity within the counter-terrorism framework. Sally Rooney, the bestselling Irish author, publicly declared her intention to continue supporting Palestine Action, creating a problem for her publisher in Britain.
Read Also: Court rulings expose flaws in legal regulation
Under section 15(3) of the Act, providing money or property to a proscribed organisation can carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment. Similarly, section 17 criminalises participation in funding arrangements that may be used for terrorism. As a result, Faber, Rooney’s publisher, ceased UK supply of her books to avoid potential financial offences.
Although no court has banned Rooney’s novels, and retailers can still sell existing copies, the practical consequences of the proscription regime have led to her books becoming “collateral damage.” The situation raises concerns about the intersection of political allegiance, money, speech, and criminal law, and how quickly the freedom to express oneself can become complicated.
