Sally Rooney says she could not come to the UK to pick up an award earlier this week because she can “no longer safely enter the UK without facing arrest”.
The Irish author of hit novels including Normal People and Conversations With Friends recently pledged her royalties to proscribed group Palestine Action, meaning she is at risk of committing a terror offence under UK law.
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK on 5 July.
The 34-year-old had won a Sky Arts Award, in the literature category, for her latest novel, Intermezzo, beating fellow writers Alan Hollinghurst and Gwyneth Lewis.
Rooney’s editor, Alex Bowler, attended the ceremony on Tuesday at London’s Roundhouse on her behalf.
Accepting the award, he read a statement from Rooney, which said: “I’m so touched and grateful to receive this prize.
“I truly loved writing Intermezzo, and it means the world to me to think that it found some small place in the lives of its readers. Thank you.
“I wish that I could be with you this evening to accept the honour in person, but because of my support for non-violent anti-war protest, I’m advised that I can no longer safely enter the UK without potentially facing arrest.
“In that context, I want to thank you all the more warmly for honouring my work tonight and to reiterate my belief in the dignity and beauty of all human life and my solidarity with the people of Palestine.”
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Why was Palestine Action proscribed?
Rooney previously told the Irish Times that if backing the group “makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it”.
She has 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 banned under terrorism legislation in the UK, but not under Irish law.
Rooney currently lives in the west of Ireland.
More than 700 people have been arrested in relation to alleged support of Palestine Action since it was banned – including 522 during a protest in central London on 9 July.
The group was proscribed after the group claimed responsibility for damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and was also linked to “allegations of a serious assault on staff”.
Earlier this week, a UN Commission report found Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.
Israel’s foreign ministry said it “categorically rejects this distorted and false report” and called for the commission to be abolished.
On Wednesday night, stars including Richard Gere, Florence Pugh, Damon Albarn and Louis Theroux all appeared at the Together for Palestine concert, at Ovo Arena Wembley, which raised £1.5m to support Palestinian humanitarian organisations.
See all the Sky Arts Awards winners here.
