Palestine
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Nai Barghouti On Developing A Vocal Technique, Stubbornness, And The Vulnerability Of Performance
The Palestinian singer, flautist, and composer previews her upcoming Reykjavík debut “I always say that just being on stage — after the first, let’s say, three minutes, that’s the worst — then it becomes one of the best feelings ever,” Nai Barghouti…
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Iceland Joins ICJ Genocide Case Against Israel
The Icelandic government has decided to participate in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, brought before the International Court of Justice. The Ministry of Judicial Affairs announced the news online, March 11. In late 2023, South Africa brought a case before the…
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Björk, Páll Óskar, Sigur Rós Voice Israel Boycott
The board of RÚV is currently contemplating whether Iceland should participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, after the European Broadcasting Union voted on December 4 to allow Israel to compete. Chairman of the RÚV’s board Stefán Jón Hafstein described the decision as…
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Björk Expresses Support To Icelandic Citizen Kidnapped By Israel
On Wednesday, October 8, internationally renowned artist Björk expressed her support for Magga Stína, who was kidnapped by the Israeli Army in international waters. Margrét Kristín Blöndal — Magga Stína — was onboard the Freedom Flotilla Conscience which was intercepted by Israeli authorities in…
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Björk’s Music Made Inaccessible In Israel
Icelandic artist Björk Guðmundsdóttir has removed her music from streaming platforms in Israel, Vísir reported on September 22 citing Israeli media. According to a report by the Times of Israel, Björk’s music is unavailable on key streaming platforms Spotify and Apple Music. In…
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Over 100 Organisations Call For Nationwide Palestine Demonstration
Over 100 Icelandic organisations are planning a nationwide demonstration in support of Palestine, demanding action from the Icelandic government. The protest is set to take place on Saturday, September 6 at 14:00 in Reykjavík, Ísafjörður, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Stykkishólmur, Húsavík, and Hólmavík. The…
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Minister Of Foreign Affairs Attends UN Meeting On Palestine
Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, is in New York City attending a meeting focused on the potential of a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel, hosted by the United Nations. Among other events, the Foreign Minister will participate in…
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Independence Party Opposes Flying Palestinian Flag Outside City Hall
Independence Party city councillors do not support the Reykjavík City Council’s decision to fly the Palestinian flag outside Reykjavík City Hall, reports RÚV. Earlier this week, the City Council approved raising the flag at City Hall to show solidarity with the Palestinian…
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National Handball Team Calls For Boycotting Israeli Sports Participation Following Win
The Iceland women’s national handball team has issued a statement encouraging Icelandic sports authorities to bar Israeli teams from participating in international tournaments. The statement was published on the team’s official fan Facebook page on April 11, following the Icelandic team’s 31-to-21…
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Hagkaup Stops Selling SodaStream
Hagkaup CEO Sigurður Reynaldsson recently announced that the shop has decided to pull SodaStream products off its shelves, Heimildin reports. Pro-Palestine activists in Iceland have encouraged consumers to avoid Israeli-made products by labelling them with stickers. According to Sigurður, SodaStream’s supplier in…
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Seriously Ill Palestinian 11-Year-Old’s Deportation Halted At Keflavík Airport
A seriously ill Palestinian 11-year-old had his deportation halted today after public protests. Yazan Tamimi, who needs a wheelchair and constant medical attention due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was due to be deported with his family. He was awoken and removed from…
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Activists Accused Of Bribing Public Officials
The Directorate of Public Prosecution has ordered the Metropolitan Police Chief to launch a reinvestigation of supposed bribes committed by activists Sema Erla Serdaroglu and María Lilja. The case traces back to April 2024, when Supreme Court lawyer Einar S. Hálfdánarson brought…
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Review Opened Into Police Clash With Pro-Palestine Protesters
Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson (Left-green MP) has launched a review of police conduct during a protest on Skuggasund on May 31. Pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside government offices that morning were engaging in peaceful protest when police officers…
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Police Use Force, Pepper Spray On Pro-Palestine Protesters
The Reykjavík Metropolitan Police broke up a peaceful anti-war and pro-Palestinian protest on May 31 with the unprecedented use of physical force and pepper spray. Individuals had been protesting outside the government offices on Skuggasund in central Reykjavík since 8:30 this morning…
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It’s Time To Shake The World: Inside the Free Palestine Movement in Iceland
“The whole world knows we have been under occupation for more than 70 years — after a few days will be 76 years under occupation,” says Naji Asar, a Palestinian refugee living in Reykjavík. He’s referring to the anniversary of al Nakba…
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Gróa Scrapped Their SXSW Performance In Solidarity With Palestine
Over 100 artists and panellists dropped their shows over festival’s military sponsors On March 7, Reykjavík-based punk trio Gróa announced the cancellation of their scheduled performance at the South by Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. “We will protest by…
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Palestinian Family Reunification No Longer Prioritised
The Directorate of Immigration (ÚTL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Judicial Affairs, no longer prioritises Palestinian applications for family reunification. Palestinian applicants have received priority since October 2023. Authorities have granted 160 residence permits to Palestinians on the grounds of family…
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72 Individuals On Their Way To Iceland From Gaza
Following an Icelandic delegation‘s efforts in Egypt, 72 individuals from Gaza were granted residence permits in Iceland on the basis of family reunification. They are currently in Cairo, awaiting their onward journey to Iceland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a…
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Palestinian Family Violently Deported, But Safety Of Refugees Remains Top Priority Officials Say
A Palestinian family, detained by special forces on Saturday, February 10, has been deported from Iceland to Greece, reports Vísir. The family had been denied international protection in Iceland, with the refusal based on their previous application for international protection in Greece.…
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Bjarni Ben’s Facebook Posts About Alþingi Encampment Cause Uproar
The head of Solaris, an aid organisation for refugees and asylum seekers in Iceland, is calling out a recent Facebook tirade by Foreign Minister Bjarni Benediktsson as falling under the definition of hate speech in the penal code. Bjarni’s original post on…
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Call For National Broadcaster To Take Stand Against Israel Participation In Eurovision
The board of the Icelandic Society of Authors and Composers (FTT) is publicly urging Iceland’s national broadcaster RÚV to withdraw from the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest unless Israel is banned from participating. In a statement addressed to RÚV General Director Stefán Eiríksson…
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Foreign Affairs Minister Bjarni Benediktsson Glitter Bombed — Twice
Protestors threw red glitter at Foreign Minister Bjarni Benediktsson on December 8 during a meeting marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Held at at Veröld – Hús Vigdísar, the schedule of events was to include opening statements…
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Icelandic Artists For Palestine Call For Iceland Noir Boycott
A group of 67 Icelandic writers and artists have signed an open letter boycotting the Iceland Noir literary festival that is happening right now in Reyjkavík. The reason is the inclusion of former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton as a…