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Mayor of Reykjavík Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálmsson has requested a police investigation into the legality of a planned conference of representatives of the adult film industry to be held in Iceland next month.
The mayor made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday. He said he is saddened by the fact that such a conference is to take place in Reykjavík, as Fréttabladid reports.
Vilhjálmsson would like to determine whether attendees of this conference, labeled SnowGathering, could be involved in child pornography. The conference is to take place in Radisson SAS Hotel in Reykjavík from March 7 to 11.
“We are very pleased by the mayor’s reaction,” Gudrún Jónsdóttir, spokesperson of Stígamót, told Fréttabladid. Last week Stígamót (the Icelandic Counseling and Information Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence) sent a letter challenging authorities to prevent the conference.
“We are investigating this case in cooperation with the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police,” said Stefán Eiríksson, Reykjavík Chief of Police. “We intend to find out what is involved and whether it is illegal.”
Minister of Trade Jón Sigurdsson said the conference could possibly be a platform for “modern slavery.” He said that was “unacceptable” and said he was certain the police would prevent it from happening.
“I am shocked by the reaction of Icelandic authorities to this conference,” Scott Hjorleifson told Fréttabladid, who plans to attend the SnowGathering conference next month.
Hjorleifson is a Canadian of Icelandic origin and he runs the pornography website SleazyDream.com. “For the first time in my life I am ashamed for having Icelandic blood in my veins,” he said.
One of SnowGathering’s organizers, Cristina Ponga, sent a statement to Fréttabladid saying she was surprised by the reaction to the conference. She emphasized that there would be no “pornographic behavior” in public.
Hrönn Greipsdóttir, the manager of Radisson SAS Hotel, where the conference is to take place, said it is not common practice to question guests about what they plan to do in Iceland and the purpose of their trip.
If there is anything illegal going on it is in the hands of the authorities, but it is not the role of the hotel to take a moral stand in matters like these, Greipsdóttir said.
Click here to read more about the porn conference.
This year, Iceland Review celebrates its 50th anniversary. In ‘Cover Story’, the magazine’s first editor, Haraldur J. Hamar, recalls its history and discusses the work of its first designer, Gísli B. Björnsson. The issue is packed with colorful articles, ranging from notable artists and athletes to memorable coffee and pancakes at the Reykjavík wharf. Click here to subscribe to Iceland Review and here to look at a selection of pages from the current issue.
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