racism
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Refugee Protesters Disperse, Cite Failing Health And Xenophobia
Inclement weather and an outpouring of xenophobia, some of them from former Icelandic politicians, have led to the refugees dispersing their protest from Austurvöllur, the square in front of Parliament. For nearly a week, the refugees sought to speak with any representative…
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The Danger of Claiming To Be Colour-Blind
In an ideal world, race would have never been invented. We wouldn’t have to talk about black, white or whatever other colour on the spectrum that societies use when referring to a group of people. But that isn’t world we live in.…
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Being Black In Iceland: An Interview With Jewells Chambers
Jewells Chambers is originally from Brooklyn, moved to Iceland in 2016, and has been very busy since then. She manages the website From Foreign To Familiar and runs the All Things Iceland podcast. A YouTube video she published with friend Tabitha Laker…
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Controversial Icelandic Independence Festival Spent 22 Million ISK On Lighting Alone
The festival celebrating 100 years since the Union Treaty between Iceland and Denmark that was held in Þingvellir National Park last July has sparked renewed controversy now that the line-item costs for the festival have been made public. Fréttablaðið reports that the…
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Nazis In Iceland Sending Unsolicited Text Messages For Support
A 17-year-old Icelandic boy was startled and disturbed when he received unsolicited text messages from the neo-Nazi group Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM), which appears to be mass text messages seeking new members. The group has had a special interest in Iceland for…
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Reactions To Iceland’s Sovereignty Celebrations: Walk-Outs, Scoldings, & Subtlety
Yesterday’s celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of Iceland and Denmark signing the Union Treaty sparked a variety of reactions, due primarily to the controversial nature of the keynote speaker, Pia Kjærsgaard, of the Danish People’s Party, who is also the parliamentary president…
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Iceland’s Independence Celebrations Under Shadow Of Racist Speaker, Midwives’ Strike
Today, Iceland celebrates the 100th anniversary of signing the Union Treaty, which paved the way for the country’s independence from Denmark. To mark the occasion, a special parliamentary session is being held at Þingvellir, but the event is already mired in controversy.…
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Don’t Ask Nanna: About Restaurant Etiquette
Hi Nanna, OK, I was out with friends for dinner at Gandhi and while we eating I put on my best Apu accent and made some jokes. ‘Thank you, come again’, head wiggling, you know. All of it was in the spirit…
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The Same Goal
Here’s the thing: terrorism is a form of politics. It’s a disgusting and extreme form of politics, but it’s nothing more nor less than politics. In the case of radical Islamic terrorism, the goal is to divide societies, to evoke fear and…
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Known Islamophobe To Hold Conference At Grand Hotel, Protest Likely
Vakur, a group claiming to be dedicated to “European culture” but seem to be more about Islamophobia and general hatred of foreigners, announced that they are hosting an event at Grand Hótel called “Everything you wanted to know about Islam but were…
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Am I Just Wrong? Myths About Asylum Seekers & Refugees, Debunked
For every story we at Grapevine run about asylum seekers and refugees in Iceland, it seems there will almost always be a small but loud contingent of commenters who seem to think people fleeing war zones are a threat to Icelandic society.…
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Neo-Nazis Reportedly Threaten Icelandic Muslim
Two men reportedly confronted and threatened former Muslim Society of Iceland chairperson Salmann Tamimi in Kópavogur yesterday, and he has refused to remain silent about the incident. Salmann took to Facebook to describe the events that transpired, which he called “a frightening…
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Nationalists Protested Against Non-Existent Changes To Law
The major complaints of the Icelandic National Front (INF) about Iceland’s immigration law concern changes to the legislation that do not actually exist. Stundin, in an interview with INF board member Gunnlaugur Ingvarsson at last Monday’s demonstration, asked what changes made to…
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Nationalists Outnumbered 4 To 1 At Demonstration – VIDEO
Today’s demonstration by the Icelandic National Front (INF) was met with an overwhelming response – from demonstrators showing their solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in Iceland. As reported, the INF had planned last Thursday to hold a demonstration at 15:00…
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Swedish Neo-Nazis Come To Iceland, Seeking Recruits
The Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) has started actively looking for recruits in Iceland, and their leader is not disclosing who they may be. RÚV has reported that many Icelanders woke up on Saturday morning to discover flyers delivered to their homes from…
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Bookstores Hide Book About Hatred Against Muslims
A former MP known for his anti-immigrant stance has accused a major book store of censorship for not shelving a controversial book he translated. Former MP of the Liberal Party Magnús Þór Hafsteinsson recently translated the book Islam. Den 11. landeplage, by…
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Hate Speech Charges To Be Filed Against Útvarp Saga
A school teacher intends to file hate speech charges against radio station Útvarp Saga, telling Grapevine they spread “propaganda day in and day out.” Gunnar Waage, a music and Spanish teacher of 10th grade students at Hólabrekkaskóli in Reykjavík, told Grapevine that…
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MP Slammed For Remarks About Asylum Seekers
An MP for the Independence Party has been harshly criticised by members of his own party for remarks he made about asylum seekers yesterday. As reported, Independence Party MP Ásmundur Friðriksson floated the idea in parliament yesterday that Iceland should consider beginning…
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Racist, Nationalist Political Party Attempted
A right wing party emphasising monoculturalism and Islamophobia is trying to get off the ground in Iceland. The party in question, which calls itself the Icelandic National Front, has so far only managed to form a Facebook group with just under 200…
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Professor Has Doubts Xenophobia Is On The Rise
A professor of political science believes that the danger of far-right political movements in Scandinavia are exaggerated, despite rising levels of support. RÚV spoke with Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland, about far-right political movements…
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Iceland After The Paris Attacks: Fear And Opportunity
Icelandic government officials were quick to respond to last Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris, but not just in the sense of expressing sympathy and condolences. The following Monday, Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Minister of the Interior Ólöf Nordal, and Chief of…
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Musicians Can Forbid Radio Stations From Playing Their Songs
Musicians do have the legal right to forbid select radio stations from playing their music, and the channels to do so are relatively straightforward. As reported, both the band Ljótu Hálfvitarnir and legendary singer-songwriter Bubbi Morthens have publicly announced that they forbid…
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Local & Famous Musicians Forbid Radio Station From Playing Their Songs
Local musicians have told a radio station that has been repeatedly accused of xenophobia that the station may no longer play their songs. Legendary Icelandic singer-songwriter Bubbi Morthens posted a public announcement directed at Útvarp Saga – a radio station that has…