Sally Rooney vows to keep backing Palestine Action despite UK ban

Irish novelist Sally Rooney has pledged to continue backing Palestine Action despite the group’s recent designation as a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.

Writing in the Irish Times on Saturday, the author criticised the arrests of more than 500 demonstrators protesting the ban of the direct action group in London last weekend. Many of those detained carried signs such as: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”

The government outlawed Palestine Action on 4 July, placing it on a par with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State under British law. It is now a criminal offence to show or encourage support for the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Critics say the ban could be used to muzzle the right to protest and criticism of Israel. 

"Palestine Action... is responsible for zero deaths and has never advocated the use of violence against any human being," the Intermezzo author said. 

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