The self-proclaimed counter-jihadist and controversial author Robert Spencer claims that the Icelandic news media is undoubtedly to blame for his alleged poisoning by a young Icelandic leftist earlier this month. In an op-ed in local newspaper Morgunblaðið, Spencer laments that the Icelandic media treated him like Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels himself when he held a talk in Reykjavík.
The bizarre case of Spencer's alleged poisoning emerged after his talk at a Reykjavík hotel on May 11th. Spencer wrote on his website that a young Icelandic leftist had poisoned him when he was out for dinner at a local restaurant after the event. He claims he spent the night in a hospital in Reykjavík. The Metropolitan police has confirmed that Spencer has pressed charges against two local men but has declined to confirm or refute specifics of Spencer's story.
Read more: Controversial US author Robert Spencer claims he was poisoned by leftist while in Iceland
Spencer is the director of the Jihadi Watch, a blogsite that rails against islamic extremism and jihad theology. He was banned from entering the UK in 2013. UK authorities believed his presence to be not conducive to the public good according to the BBC.
Like Josef Goebbels himself had arrived for a visit
In today's op-ed, Spencer rages against the Icelandic media and its supposed unfair treatment of him during his stay. According to him, his only crime had been to warn Icelanders against jihadi terrorists.
For that the Icelandic media treated me like Josef Goebbels himself had arrived for a visit, an aggrieved Spencer writes, citing examples of him being characterized as an islamophobe in various media.
Encouragement from hostile coverage by the media
Regarding his alleged poisoning, Spencer insinuates that the local media was responsible for it with its rhetoric against him.
Two weeks after I spoke in Reykjavík, and an Icelandic leftist poisoned me, undoubtedly encouraged to do so by the hostile coverage of me in the Icelandic media, has any Muslim been attacked by those who listened to me? Has an islamophobic man murdered any Muslim anywhere? writes Spencer and answers in the negative.
The timing of Spencer's rhetorical question is unfortunate, though. On Friday, a man was arrested in Portland, Oregon, after having fatally slashed the throats of two people and injured a third after they tried to defend two Muslim women he had racially abused.
Around fifty protesters gathered outside the hotel where Spencer gave his talk in Reykjavík. Icelandic human rights organizations argued Spencer is guilty of spreading hate and prejudice against Muslims.
Just 0.28% of the population of Iceland are Muslim, in total 948 people.
The self-proclaimed counter-jihadist and controversial author Robert Spencer claims that the Icelandic news media is undoubtedly to blame for his alleged poisoning by a young Icelandic leftist earlier this month. In an op-ed in local newspaper Morgunblaðið, Spencer laments that the Icelandic media treated him like Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels himself when he held a talk in Reykjavík.
The bizarre case of Spencer's alleged poisoning emerged after his talk at a Reykjavík hotel on May 11th. Spencer wrote on his website that a young Icelandic leftist had poisoned him when he was out for dinner at a local restaurant after the event. He claims he spent the night in a hospital in Reykjavík. The Metropolitan police has confirmed that Spencer has pressed charges against two local men but has declined to confirm or refute specifics of Spencer's story.
Read more: Controversial US author Robert Spencer claims he was poisoned by leftist while in Iceland
Spencer is the director of the Jihadi Watch, a blogsite that rails against islamic extremism and jihad theology. He was banned from entering the UK in 2013. UK authorities believed his presence to be not conducive to the public good according to the BBC.
Like Josef Goebbels himself had arrived for a visit
In today's op-ed, Spencer rages against the Icelandic media and its supposed unfair treatment of him during his stay. According to him, his only crime had been to warn Icelanders against jihadi terrorists.
For that the Icelandic media treated me like Josef Goebbels himself had arrived for a visit, an aggrieved Spencer writes, citing examples of him being characterized as an islamophobe in various media.
Encouragement from hostile coverage by the media
Regarding his alleged poisoning, Spencer insinuates that the local media was responsible for it with its rhetoric against him.
Two weeks after I spoke in Reykjavík, and an Icelandic leftist poisoned me, undoubtedly encouraged to do so by the hostile coverage of me in the Icelandic media, has any Muslim been attacked by those who listened to me? Has an islamophobic man murdered any Muslim anywhere? writes Spencer and answers in the negative.
The timing of Spencer's rhetorical question is unfortunate, though. On Friday, a man was arrested in Portland, Oregon, after having fatally slashed the throats of two people and injured a third after they tried to defend two Muslim women he had racially abused.
Around fifty protesters gathered outside the hotel where Spencer gave his talk in Reykjavík. Icelandic human rights organizations argued Spencer is guilty of spreading hate and prejudice against Muslims.
Just 0.28% of the population of Iceland are Muslim, in total 948 people.
