Person crosses farm fence and alters EU sticker on hay bale

A person entered a farm in northern Iceland, tore an “EU, no thanks” sticker from a hay bale and wrote “Yes to see” on it, mbl.is reports. The incident occurred at Kambakot farm in Húnaþing, according to farmer Erla Jónsdóttir.

Erla said in a Facebook post that the person climbed over a fence, removed the sticker and later returned to write on the hay bale. “Yes to see” is a campaign urging people to vote yes in the referendum on whether Iceland should begin membership talks with the European Union.

The referendum is scheduled for August 29. Hay bales bearing “EU, no thanks” stickers have been visible in many parts of Iceland, as farmers have taken an active role in the debate over possible EU membership.

Erla told mbl.is that nobody at the farm witnessed the incident. She said the sticker was initially thought to have blown off in the rain and wind, but it later became clear that it had been torn away.

She said the incident was not primarily about the EU debate, but about the principle that people may express their opinions without entering someone else’s property or using their belongings without permission.

“You may have your opinion. I may have my opinion. You may express your opinion on your property. But you may not enter my land and use my property to express your opinion without my permission,” she wrote.

Erla also said there was considerable interest among farmers in obtaining stickers supporting the “EU, no thanks” message.