The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe argues that Icelandic legislation which bans insults of foreign heads of state as well as the flags or emblems and coats of arms of foreign nations or international bodies, like the UN, is in violation of the freedom of speech.
Insult a foreign leader? 6 years in prison!
In Iceland the maximum penalty for publicly insulting the supreme official or head of state of a foreign nation carries a penalty of up to six years in prison.
A new OSCE report (pdf) points out that the Icelandic legislation goes further than that of any member nation of OSCE, which includes all European nations, the US and Canada, as well as the Central Asian republics. Only 24 member countries have special laws to protect against defaming the reputation and honor of foreign heads of state. These include countries with questionable human rights records like the Central Asian republics, but also countries like Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. However, the sanctions in Icelandic law are in a league of its own, the report argues.
A violation of the freedom of expression
Criminal sanctions for offending foreign heads of state are a clear violation of the right to free speech, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe argues, pointing out that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against such sanctions.
[The European Court of Human Rights] has ruled that special privileges accorded to foreign heads of state- to say nothing of extreme sanctions such as in the Icelandic case – do not strike a proper balance between the need to preserve positive international relations and the obligation to protect freedom of expression.
MPs of the opposition Left Green Movement recently introduced a bill to repeal the law.
Read more: Left-greens want to make it legal to insult foreign heads of state
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe argues that Icelandic legislation which bans insults of foreign heads of state as well as the flags or emblems and coats of arms of foreign nations or international bodies, like the UN, is in violation of the freedom of speech.
Insult a foreign leader? 6 years in prison!
In Iceland the maximum penalty for publicly insulting the supreme official or head of state of a foreign nation carries a penalty of up to six years in prison.
A new OSCE report (pdf) points out that the Icelandic legislation goes further than that of any member nation of OSCE, which includes all European nations, the US and Canada, as well as the Central Asian republics. Only 24 member countries have special laws to protect against defaming the reputation and honor of foreign heads of state. These include countries with questionable human rights records like the Central Asian republics, but also countries like Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. However, the sanctions in Icelandic law are in a league of its own, the report argues.
A violation of the freedom of expression
Criminal sanctions for offending foreign heads of state are a clear violation of the right to free speech, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe argues, pointing out that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against such sanctions.
[The European Court of Human Rights] has ruled that special privileges accorded to foreign heads of state- to say nothing of extreme sanctions such as in the Icelandic case – do not strike a proper balance between the need to preserve positive international relations and the obligation to protect freedom of expression.
MPs of the opposition Left Green Movement recently introduced a bill to repeal the law.
Read more: Left-greens want to make it legal to insult foreign heads of state
