Actors, writers condemn UK anti-terror law targeting Sally Rooney

Dozens of prominent actors, writers, and public intellectuals have signed an open letter condemning the government’s use of anti-terrorism legislation to prosecute activists linked to the group Palestine Action, a campaign that began after author Sally Rooney publicly declined to engage with Israeli publishers. Al Jazeera reports that the signatories describe the ban as a “repressive absurdity” that chills free expression and criminalises peaceful protest.

The ban and its targets

Under the Terrorism Act 2000, Palestine Action was proscribed earlier this year after a series of disruptive protests at defence contractors and arms fairs across southern England. The legislation makes it a criminal offence to be a member of or to invite others to join a proscribed organisation, punishable by up to ten years in prison. Sally Rooney, whose novels have been translated into dozens of languages, was not directly targeted by the ban but became a focal point when she explained her decision not to permit Hebrew translations of her work, citing the publisher’s ties to an Israeli defence contractor.

Literary voices in protest

The open letter, organised by a coalition of writers’ unions and civil liberties groups, accuses the government of weaponising counter-terrorism law against domestic dissent. Among the signatories are Booker Prize winners, screenwriters whose films have premiered at Cannes, and several actors known for their roles in BBC period dramas. They argue that the proscription effectively bars peaceful advocacy for Palestinian rights and sets a precedent that could be applied to other activist movements. The Guardian’s literary editor, who reviewed the letter, called it the most significant show of cultural resistance to the proscription regime since its inception.

Why it matters

The controversy sits at the intersection of free speech, foreign policy, and national security — three domains where the government has struggled to find consistent ground. For the arts community, the proscription feels like a direct challenge to the principle that cultural criticism should never be treated as terrorism. For civil liberties organisations, it represents an expansion of proscription powers that could extend to climate activists, anti-racism groups, or any organisation deemed controversial by the Home Office. The letter’s timing, released midway through the party conference season, ensures the issue will dominate political discourse through the autumn.

What happens next

The letter is scheduled to be delivered to Downing Street on Thursday morning, and organisers say they will file a legal challenge if the proscription is not reviewed. Justice Secretary Shabana Maude has indicated that the government will defend the ban on national security grounds, while_shadow justice secretary Rachel Reeves has called for a parliamentary debate next week. Palestine Action itself has rebranded its remaining activities as “community organising” and says it will contest the proscription on human rights grounds. Sally Rooney has not commented publicly on the letter, but her publisher confirmed that she supports the signatories’ right to free expression.