Latest news with #ConversationsWithFriends
Euronews
a day ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Downing Street warns author Sally Rooney over Palestine Action support
The UK government has warned best-selling Irish author Sally Rooney that her public pledge to support the banned group Palestine Action could fall foul of terrorism laws. Speaking after Rooney announced she would donate her BBC adaptation royalties to the controversial campaign group, a spokesperson for the prime minister said: 'Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and obviously the police will, as they have set out, implement the law as you'd expect.' A post shared by Official Sally Rooney (@sallyrooneyofficial) While the spokesperson did not address Rooney's comments directly, they added: '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.' The warning follows Rooney's defiant statement in The Irish Times, in which she wrote: 'If this makes me a supporter of terror under UK law, so be it.' She described the group's supporters as 'brave individuals' and pledged to continue backing 'direct action against genocide.' Palestine Action was officially proscribed in July, shortly after members broke into RAF Brize Norton and sprayed red paint on military aircraft, causing an estimated £7 million (€8.1 million) in damage. Rooney, 34, who lives in the west of Ireland, said she plans to donate proceeds from her work, including the BBC adaptations of Normal People and Conversations With Friends, to Palestine Action. Since the group was outlawed on 5 July, more than 700 people have been arrested in connection with Palestine Action activities – over 500 of them at a protest in London's Parliament Square earlier this month. Half of those now facing terror charges are over the age of 60, according to police data. Rooney has long been vocal in her support for the Palestinian cause. She previously joined a boycott of Israeli publishers and declined to have her 2021 novel "Beautiful World, Where Are You" translated into Hebrew by an Israeli company. In her recent op-ed, she accused the UK government of stripping away 'basic rights and freedoms,' warning that 'the ramifications for cultural and intellectual life in the UK... are and will be profound.'
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
UK government warns against funding Palestine Action after Sally Rooney's cash pledge
Sally Rooney pledged to support Palestine Action (Alamy/PA) The award-winning Irish author said she would donate her earnings from her books and BBC adaptations to support the group, which was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. Downing Street said "support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act" and said no-one should be backing the group. The Co Mayo native said that if that backing Palestine Action "makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it". Writing in the Irish Times over the weekend, Ms Rooney said she would use the proceeds of her work and her public platform to continue her support for Palestine Action and "direct action against genocide in whatever way I can". Palestine Action was recently proscribed under terrorism legislation in the UK, but not under Irish law. The BBC said that Ms Rooney was not and never had been on the broadcaster's staff, adding that what novelists say and do with money previously received is a matter for them. The BBC has broadcast adaptations of Ms Rooney's novels Normal People and Conversations With Friends in recent years. Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the ambassador of the state of Palestine in Ireland, said on Monday: "Sally Rooney is using her voice to call out international law and human rights violations in Palestine. "I hope these calls result in practical actions that will stop the horrors we're witnessing carried out by Israel in Palestine; to stop the genocide and forced displacement and end the Israeli occupation." In Westminster, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesman would not specifically address the author's comments, but said: "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." Asked what message No 10 would give to people considering giving money to the group, the spokesman said: "Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and obviously the police will, as they have set out, they will obviously implement the law within the law as you'd expect." The spokesman said Palestine Action was proscribed "based on security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, following an assessment made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre". In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: "Matters relating to proscribed organisations are for the relevant authorities." The BBC said it was not currently working with Ms Rooney on any upcoming projects.
Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
The power of the pen: a brief history of literary radicals
All four of Irish novelist Sally Rooney's works have been bestsellers, especially her novel turned BBC series Normal People, which made stars of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Walk into any airport WH Smith and you will see it or Conversations with Friends or Intermezzo or even the more Marmite Beautiful World, Where Are You on the standout fiction shelf. So when she pledges to donate future earnings from UK book sales and residual payments from the adaptations to Palestine Action, this is no small decision financially. It's also no small decision legally, as she risks action from the UK government, which earlier this year declared the group a terrorist organisation. But this week Rooney said that if her choice 'makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it.' She's the latest in a long line of authors who have made political pronouncements and given away their earnings. Below are some of the most significant.
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
No 10 warns against funding Palestine Action after Sally Rooney cash pledge
The award-winning Irish author said she will donate her earnings from her books and BBC adaptions to support the group, which was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. Downing Street said 'support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act' and said no-one should be backing the group. The Co Mayo native said that if that backing Palestine Action 'makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it'. Writing in the Irish Times over the weekend, Ms Rooney said she will use the proceeds of her work and her public platform to continue her support for Palestine Action and 'direct action against genocide in whatever way I can'. Palestine Action was recently proscribed under terrorism legislation in the UK, but not under Irish law. Ms Rooney currently lives in the west of Ireland. The BBC has broadcast adaptations of Ms Rooney's novels Normal People and Conversations With Friends in recent years. But she has never been on the broadcaster's staff and the PA news agency understands the corporation is not working with her on any upcoming projects. Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the ambassador of the state of Palestine in Ireland, said on Monday: 'Sally Rooney is using her voice to call out international law and human rights violations in Palestine. 'I hope these calls result in practical actions that will stop the horrors we're witnessing carried out by Israel in Palestine; to stop the genocide and forced displacement and end the Israeli occupation.' In Westminster the Prime Minister's official spokesman would not comment specifically on the author's comments, but said: '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.' Asked what message No 10 would give to people considering giving money to the group, the spokesman said: 'Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and obviously the police will, as they have set out, they will obviously implement the law within the law as you'd expect.' The spokesman said Palestine Action was proscribed 'based on security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, following an assessment made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre'. In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: 'Matters relating to proscribed organisations are for the relevant authorities.'
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
No 10 warns against funding Palestine Action after Sally Rooney cash pledge
The award-winning Irish author said she will donate her earnings from her books and BBC adaptions to support the group, which was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. Downing Street said 'support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act' and said no-one should be backing the group. The Co Mayo native said that if that backing Palestine Action 'makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it'. Writing in the Irish Times over the weekend, Ms Rooney said she will use the proceeds of her work and her public platform to continue her support for Palestine Action and 'direct action against genocide in whatever way I can'. Palestine Action was recently proscribed under terrorism legislation in the UK, but not under Irish law. Ms Rooney currently lives in the west of Ireland. The BBC has broadcast adaptations of Ms Rooney's novels Normal People and Conversations With Friends in recent years. But she has never been on the broadcaster's staff and the PA news agency understands the corporation is not working with her on any upcoming projects. Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the ambassador of the state of Palestine in Ireland, said on Monday: 'Sally Rooney is using her voice to call out international law and human rights violations in Palestine. 'I hope these calls result in practical actions that will stop the horrors we're witnessing carried out by Israel in Palestine; to stop the genocide and forced displacement and end the Israeli occupation.' In Westminster the Prime Minister's official spokesman would not comment specifically on the author's comments, but said: '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.' Asked what message No 10 would give to people considering giving money to the group, the spokesman said: 'Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and obviously the police will, as they have set out, they will obviously implement the law within the law as you'd expect.' The spokesman said Palestine Action was proscribed 'based on security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, following an assessment made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre'. In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: 'Matters relating to proscribed organisations are for the relevant authorities.'
