This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly in Iceland from 3rd June to 26th September 2025.
EXPRESSION and ASSEMBLY
Journalist splashed with red paint during pro-Palestinian protest
On 22nd July 2025, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to protest the starvation of Gaza residents and to denounce the inaction of the Icelandic government to stop Israel. During the protest, a demonstrator splashed red paint on a journalist from Morgunblaðið and mbl.is.
Journalists work on behalf of the public—to inform and hold power to account. That’s why the trend we’re seeing, both here and in surrounding countries, is so distressing. That journalists are no longer safe while working. This is a serious development.
- Sigríður Dögg Auðunsdóttir, chair of the Icelandic Union of Journalists
The next day, the Iceland–Palestine Association issued a statement expressing their regret for the incident and their full support for press freedom in Iceland and in Palestine. The Iceland–Palestine Association repeated that it stood firmly against all forms of violence and that this behaviour was not tolerated at their events.
Nation Against Genocide protests
On 6th September 2025, people took part in the 'Nation Against Genocide' protests in different cities throughout Iceland: Reykjavík, Ísafjörður, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Stykkishólmur, Húsavík, and Hólmavík. Over 100 organisations, including trade unions, the National Church of Iceland, the Icelandic Medical Association and the National Association of Police Officers called for participation in the demonstration in support of Palestine, demanding the severing of diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Environmental activists charged for protest aboard whaling ships
On 4th June 2025, the Metropolitan Police Chief charged two environmental activists, Sahar Babaei and Elissa May Phillips, for their protest aboard two whaling ships in 2023.
Sahar Babaei and Elissa May Phillips have been formally charged for their protest aboard the whaling ships Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9 in September 2023. On 4th September 2023, the two women boarded the vessels without permission and refused to comply with police orders to vacate the vessels. They climbed masts and stayed there for approximately 33 hours. The activists opposed the decision of Minister of Food Svandís Svavarsdóttir to allow whaling again. They were subsequently taken into police custody, and the whaling company filed charges the same day.
According to the indictment, the two women are charged with burglary and violations of the Maritime Safety Act as well as of the Act on Access to Port Facilities, which prohibits boarding a vessel without the explicit consent of port authorities, the ship's captain, or the shipowner. This offence may be penalised with fines or imprisonment of up to two years.
As a result of these legal proceedings, the two women have been unable to apply for visas. Sahar Babaei, who is an Iranian national, was unable to visit her family in Iran.
On 6th June 2025, they claimed their innocence before entering the Reykjavík District Court. The hearings will continue in October 2025. On 3rd September 2025, prosecutors dropped maritime safety violation charges as these laws don’t apply to whaling ships docked in the Reykjavík harbour.