Iceland–Palestine association condemns the attack

The Iceland–Palestine Association says in a statement issued yesterday that it regrets “the incident that occurred at the association’s protest yesterday, when one demonstrator splashed red paint on a journalist from mbl.is .”

“The association stands firmly against all forms of violence, and nothing justifies such behavior at our events. This conduct is not welcome at our gatherings and is not done in our name. The association’s board has apologized to the photographer.”

Association Condemns All Attacks on Journalists

In the statement, the association expresses its full support for press freedom in Iceland and in Palestine, condemns all attacks on media workers, and notes that it has previously organized protests against the persecution of journalists in Palestine.

The association says that several hundred protesters gathered outside the Ministry for Foreign Affairs today to protest the starvation of Gaza residents to death, which is happening without real action from the Icelandic government to stop what Israel is carrying out as a “final solution” in Gaza.

“Despite this incident, which we deeply regret, we will continue our efforts to draw attention to the inaction of the Icelandic authorities,” the statement concludes.

“This is a serious development”

Sigríður Dögg Auðunsdóttir, chair of the Icelandic Union of Journalists, says it is an attack on press freedom when journalists are unable to do their job without interference. A protester associated with the Iceland–Palestine Association splashed red paint on a photographer from Morgunblaðið and mbl.is during the demonstration today.

“We’ve seen this happen in neighboring countries—at protests and similar events—where journalists have had to conceal that they are working, because revealing their identity puts them at risk,” Auðunsdóttir said in an interview with mbl.is .

Very serious when journalists are attacked for doing their job

The protest was held outside the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Reykjavíkurstræti today. A cameraman from the national broadcaster RÚV was also present at the scene.

Both were asked which media outlets they were working for, but no paint was thrown at the RÚV cameraman.

“There were two photographers clearly working, and it’s just awful that this happened—that a Morgunblaðið photographer was attacked in this way,” said Auðunsdóttir.

A very serious matter

She emphasized that it is a very serious matter when journalists are attacked “simply for doing their job, and it’s terrible to know this happened.”

“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,” Auðunsdóttir concluded.