Dozens of prominent writers, actors and activists have signed an open letter attacking the law the British government used to ban Palestine Action, calling it an "oppressive absurdity." The letter was published as works by Irish novelist Sally Rooney were withdrawn from sale in the UK market.
According to the letter, Rooney's public support for Palestine Action — a group the UK government has designated a "terrorist organisation" — is the reason her books were pulled from shelves. The signatories state: "Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must remain accessible to the public."
The letter argues that withdrawing the books under a counter-terrorism law it describes as ill-considered and draconian is "an insult to the fundamental principles of free speech and expression long taken for granted in this country."
The signatories include a host of major names: actors Paul Mescal — who appeared in the adaptation of Rooney's novel Normal People — Susan Sarandon and Tilda Swinton; commentator Gary Lineker; and writers Arundhati Roy, Naomi Klein, JM Coetzee, Zadie Smith and William Dalrymple. Also among them are filmmaker Jonathan Glazer, philosopher Slavoj Zizek, musician Kate Nash and Irish hip-hop group Kneecap.
The letter appears on the cover of this week's New Statesman, just two weeks before the High Court is due to hear a case concerning the ban. The signatories conclude: "We firmly reject all forms of censorship — direct or indirect — and call on the government to change course and amend the law that has brought us to this point of oppressive absurdity."
Earlier on Wednesday, Rooney's publisher Faber & Faber said the suspension of sales stemmed from "circumstances in which Faber cannot pass on income in the UK to Sally Rooney for her work," and that continuing to sell the books would be an "unacceptable situation for a publisher."
Rooney, for her part, said continuing to publish her work could constitute a "serious criminal offence." She said she had "tried her utmost to be honest" with the public about her beliefs and intentions, and insisted she was "entirely prepared to accept the consequences."
Digital editions of Rooney's works have also been removed from sale in the UK, though some print copies remain in bookshops. Rooney is the author of four bestselling novels, with combined global sales of more than six million copies.
