Pirate Party MP Criticises Shutting Down Islamic State Site

Pirate Party MP Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson has called the shutting down of khilafah.is “an irresponsible approach” to dealing with the Islamic State (IS) using an Icelandic domain name. ISNIC says it will “keep track of [.is] domains which seem Arabic”.

“The public has the right to investigate and discuss openly some of the ugliest ideas that can be found in human civilisation,” Helgi Hrafn posted on his Facebook. “Especially when talking about a horror such as the Islamic State. I know this decision was based on the law; I’m pointing out that the law is irresponsible, dangerous and wrong, however well meant it is. People who want to learn about Nazism need to have access to Mein Kampf and Hitler’s speeches. People who want to learn about the Islamic State need likewise access to their material.”

As reported, khilafah.is featured news, photos, and videos from the Islamic State, primarily in British English. Yesterday, ISNIC shut the site down on the grounds that the contents of the website violated Icelandic law, including hate speech and the graphic depiction of executions.

However, the matter is not over yet. RÚV reports that the Islamic State could quite easily set up another .is website. Jens Pétur Jensen, the managing director of ISNIC, told reporters that while he agrees with Helgi Hrafn in principle, “We take this decision [to shut them down] because we can choose who we give service to. We are a private company. And we have no intention to serve this organisation.”

MBL reports that ISNIC was kind enough to give the Islamic State a refund for shutting them down, but added that, RÚV reports, “they will keep track of those domains which seem Arabic”.

For their part, the Islamic State has tweeted the hope that their website will come back soon.