Sally Rooney, Palestine Action, and UK Terror Laws

HostThe voices in this episode are synthetic, and the script was written by a language model. The positions are real, and they come from the thread.

HostA thread on Reddit's books community recently got quite heated over Sally Rooney's decision to donate royalties from her Hebrew-language translation to Palestine Action. The discussion, spanning nearly ninety comments, revolved around whether this was a legitimate protest or a legally problematic move.

HostThe whole thing kicked off around an article from newstatesman.com, which was behind a paywall, so most people were reacting to what others reported it said. We've got a room here that's pretty evenly split on the core issue, with a smaller voice trying to clarify the facts.

Not a ban clarifierI think it's really important to start by saying that her books haven't actually been 'banned' by the government. What happened is that Rooney and her publisher came to an agreement to stop UK sales because of the legal risks involved in funding a proscribed organization.

Not a ban clarifierThe UK's laws against funding groups like Palestine Action are long-standing, and they apply to everyone. The publisher's concern wasn't about censorship; it was about breaking anti-money laundering laws and facing serious personal and corporate penalties.

Protest advocateBut that's exactly the point, isn't it? It isn't about whether her books are 'banned' in the traditional sense; it's about how the UK's terror laws are being used to silence protest and free speech. Rooney's intent here is to highlight the absurdity of these laws.

Protest advocatePalestine Action's actions, like spray painting an air force base, don't fit the definition of terrorism. Terrorism should involve targeting civilians to spread mass terror, not property damage, even if it's criminal.

Law abiding criticI'm sorry, but that's just not how the law works. Funding a proscribed organization is illegal under UK law, full stop. The publisher isn't just being cautious; they're facing significant legal risks if they facilitate this.

Law abiding criticPalestine Action has engaged in serious criminal activities, including causing millions in damages. In one attack on Filton Elbit Systems, a police officer's spine was fractured with a sledgehammer. That's not just 'property damage'.

Protest advocateThe context of that police officer's injury is often misrepresented. There are claims of self-defense or panic by the accused, and it's not a clear-cut case of intentional terrorism. The proscription itself is an autocratic measure, not a democratic one.

Law abiding criticThe UK's proscription process is democratic; it involves parliamentary votes to designate these groups. And regardless of what you call it, no government in the world tolerates military sabotage, especially when it involves injuring personnel and damaging critical infrastructure, like planes used for North Sea patrols.

Law abiding criticIf Rooney actually cares about helping Palestinians, she could easily donate to numerous other legitimate aid organizations. Her actions feel more like a publicity stunt to bolster her progressive credentials or portray herself as a victim, rather than genuinely helping anyone.

Protest advocateIt isn't a stunt; it's a protest against what she believes are unjust laws. The ability of the British government to use 'proscription' like this is the core problem. It's not how legal systems in 'normal' countries function, where courts determine terrorism case-by-case, like in Sweden.

Protest advocateThe UK's terror laws are being used to stifle legitimate dissent, even when people disagree with the methods. It's about showing how far the government will go to silence certain voices.

Not a ban clarifierI think it's important to remember that the open letter supporting Rooney often misunderstands the situation by implying a ban, rather than a legal consequence. The publisher isn't making a political statement; they're just trying to comply with existing laws.

Law abiding criticExactly. The specific actions of Palestine Action, such as damaging military equipment and injuring personnel, absolutely justify its proscription. You can support Palestine without supporting violence or illegal activities.

Protest advocateBut the proscription itself is for 'bullshit reasons,' like the spray painting. It's an overreach. Australia also banned a popular protest phrase, leading to raids and arrests of peaceful protesters. This isn't just about Palestine; it's about the erosion of protest rights.

HostIt seems there's a fundamental disagreement on whether Palestine Action's activities constitute terrorism, and whether the UK's proscription process is legitimate. The thread itself saw a lot of frustration with what some called misinformation, and unfortunately, it often devolved into personal attacks and name-calling, with 'bootlicker' being a common dismissal.

HostOne view that didn't gain much traction, and was heavily downvoted, was the idea that the police officer's injury was accidental or self-defense. Multiple commenters cited trial details to contradict that claim. Similarly, the assertion that Palestine Action's proscription was 'without any sort of democratic process' was strongly refuted by evidence of a parliamentary vote.

HostThere was also some debate about whether the UK's proscription process is unique, with some arguing other 'normal' countries have similar practices. A less common point suggested Palestine Action's actions were aimed at disrupting aid to Ukraine, funded by a pro-Putin millionaire, but that wasn't widely adopted.

HostUltimately, there wasn't a broad consensus on the legitimacy of Palestine Action's proscription or Sally Rooney's actions. What did become clear, thanks in part to a top-scoring comment quoting Rooney directly, was that the publisher's decision wasn't a unilateral 'ban' but a legal necessity due to the risks of funding a proscribed organization. The core question of whether those proscription laws are just, however, remains deeply contested.

HostSloppod out.

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