Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.08.2019, Page 13

The Icelandic government has been
strongly criticised by a leading
academic at the University of Akureyri
for proposed plans to relax existing
hate speech laws. Eyrún Eyþórsdóttir,
who previously held a position with
the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police
as a specialist detective inspector
investigating hate crimes, has said
the current approach has “created a
society where people find [hate speech]
acceptable.”
She also warns that further
loosening of the laws—to whit, the
proposed addition of a requirement
that to be classified as hate speech, a
statement must contain a threat of
violence—runs the risk of exacerbating
the problem. “It’s becoming more
and more common for people to put
out hate speech or speech with very
negative connotations to minority
groups,” she said.
An unworkable
system
However, Eyrún acknowledges why
the working group responsible for the
proposed law changes considers the
current system untenable. “A lot of the
individuals that have been charged and
sentenced because of hate speech in the
Nordic countries are not people who
belong to hate groups,” she explains.
“So the politicians claim that it doesn’t
do justice to go after these people,
because they are not the main prob-
lem.”
But the research that Eyrún has
been working on shows otherwise. “We
always have to look at the big picture.
Even though the main problem might
not be hate groups or neo-Nazi groups
putting out hate speech, a kind of soci-
ety has now been created where this
kind of thing has been made out to be
not as serious as it is. It is looked at
as just people putting forward their
opinions. I think if our society agrees
upon this, then there will be more and
more hate speech, with really horrible
conclusions for the people who are
being targeted.”
Zero
tolerance
Icelandic hate speech laws, which are
covered by Article 233(a) of the General
Penal Code currently state “Anyone
who does by means of ridicule, calum-
niation, insult, threat or otherwise
assault [a person or group of persons]
on account of their nationality, colour,
[race, religion or sexual inclination]
shall be subject to fines or imprison-
ment for up to two years.”
The law has been in place since 1973,
but only a handful of cases have ever
been brought to court. The proposed
changes would add an additional
requirement of the perpetrator threat-
ening violence or harm to the targeted
group or individuals before they can be
charged with hate speech.
Eyrún thinks that much wider work
must be done across society to educate
people about hate speech before reduc-
tions in incidences will be seen. During
her time within the police force, Eyrún
was subjected to threats and abuse
while investigating cases, which came
from both members of the public and,
in some cases, from Alþingi politicians.
She says that there needs to be a “zero
tolerance” approach to hate speech
from political representatives going
forward.
“We are a small nation,” she finishes.
“We all want to live in a peaceful coun-
try, because that’s the country that can
most guarantee security and prosperity
for the people living here. And I think
we should speak about it that way.”
Words:
Josie Gaitens
Photo:
Art Bicnick
Eyrún has some choice words for hate speech laws
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13 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 13— 2019
“A kind of society
has now been
created where
hate speech is
made out not to
be very serious.”
Harsh Words
Proposed changes to Icelandic hate speech laws slammed by academic