MP says suspending domain was wrong
Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, MP. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Suspending the Icelandic domain name Khilafah.is, linked to the terrorist organisation Islamic State, was wrong according to Pirate Party MP Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson. The decision was taken yesterday by ISNIC, the company responsible for registering .is domain names, claiming the usage of the domain name violated Icelandic laws.
Gunnarsson said on Facebook that the public had to have a chance to form independent opinions of the ugliest ideas found in human society. Especially regarding horrific things like Islamic State. Those who would like to get information about Nazism should be able to read Mein Kampf and likewise people who would like to learn about Islamic State should be able to read their websites. Investigating serious issues like Islamic State should not only be in the hands of "few chosen specialists" like government officials and journalists. Each individual should be able to reach his or her own conclusions.
"This is in fact a sad day for ISNIC. We are very sad over this. It was not an easy decision to do this. We had a reputaion for never having suspended a domain name. That is not the reality anymore. These people have ruined that for us," says Jens Pétur Jensen, director of ISNIC, to mbl.is. He says the decision was taken by the company's board after consulting its lawyer. He says attempts were made to contact the person registered for the domain name, who lives in New Zealand, both through phone and e-mail but with no success.
Justice Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who is also Iceland's Premier, said yesterday it was unacceptable that an organisation like Islamic State was using an Icelandic domain name for its activities. The option of suspending domain names used for promoting terrorism should be on the table. He said his Ministry was looking into the matter. Ögmundur Jónasson, MP for the Left Green Movement, expressed similar views over the weekend saying he hoped the parliament would address the issue.
Related stories:
