Protestor hose-down controversy

The actions of a security guard at the Icelandic Parliament (‘Alþingi’) against a protestor have divided opinion among prominent Icelandic politicians.

Privatisation protest

Last Wednesday, a small group of demonstrators gathered outside Alþingi in protest at the fact that an investigation of bank privatisations passed by MPs 888 days before had still not materialised. Protestors attempted to chalk the numbers 888 onto the pavement by the main Alþingi building.

“Completely unaccepta­ble”

Alþingi security guards responded by cleaning off the graffiti with a water-hose. When a protestor came forward to try and prevent this, the guard holding the hose overpowered the protestor, forcing him to the ground.

One of the first to react was the leader of the Pirate Party (‘Píratar’), Birgitta Jónsdóttir, who described the guard’s methods as “completely unacceptable”.

Jónsdóttir’s Pirate colleague, Jón Þór Ólafsson MP, sent a letter to the Speaker of the House, Einar K. Guðfinnsson, asking him to have the matter looked into by the Speakers’ Committee. The Committee met on Monday to discuss the case and inspect the relevant security-camera footage.

“Natural reaction”

“It was clear to all those watching the footage that the guards had reacted in a very natural way,” indicated Guðfinnsson the day after the meeting, “The guard in question was attacked and quite naturally pushed his assailant away. The whole team of guards acted responsibly and I have no reason to criticise any of their actions.”

Ólafsson responded that, while it was clear that the demonstrator had attacked the guard, “spraying demonstrators who were posing no security threat at all with cold water is not the right thing to do. In such cases, the right thing for security guards and police officers to do is to keep their calm and prioritise safety.”

“Guard owed an apology”

Ásmund­ur Friðriks­son, MP for the Independence Party (‘Sjálfstæðisflokkinn’), reacted angrily to the whole episode in Alþingi yesterday. “I think that the Honourable Members [Birgitta Jóns­dótt­ir and Jón Þór Ólafs­son] owe the guard, Alþingi staff and all of us here an apology for this unnecessary fuss and unacceptable accusations against a guard who was simply doing his job conscientiously and loyally.”