An Evening For Edward Snowden

Iceland will be taking part in an international event in honour of whistleblower Edward Snowden tonight.

This evening, participants around the world will be taking part in the Worldwide Reading for Edward Snowden. A part of the international literature festival Berlin (ilb), “all individuals, institutions, schools and media outlets that care about freedom and civil rights” are encouraged to “participate in a worldwide reading of texts about surveillance in support of Edward Snowden”.

Amongst the countries involved, Iceland will be taking part as well. The event will be held at Loft Hostel (Bankastræti 7a) at 20:30 this evening.

The readings will be conducted by author Hallgrímur Helgason and Pirate Party MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir. Amongst the readers involved are Left-Green chairperson Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Bright Future MP Óttarr Proppé, journalist Sindri Freysson and others.

The event is open to the general public, and admission is free.

Edward Snowden almost made his home in Iceland, citing it amongst the countries he was considering taking refuge in. However, such a move would have likely ended in his arrest and extradition. Interestingly, documents Snowden revealed showed that the same US authorities Iceland would be assisting with such an arrest had put Iceland on a list of countries who could be spied upon.