Pirate Party leader advocates for independent police review in East Iceland

The leader of the Pirate Party in East Iceland is advocating for an independent review of police methods following a controversial investigation. Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir, chair of the Pirate Party’s parliamentary group, expressed concerns about a police investigation into six journalists, which she believes has negatively impacted media and freedom of expression in the country.

Recently, the police in East Iceland closed an inquiry involving seven suspects, including the journalists. The probe was based on allegations of theft of a mobile phone owned by Captain Páll Steingrímsson, data copying from the phone, the distribution of explicit material, and drugging. Ævarsdóttir criticized the police’s actions, stating that the treatment of journalists as suspects merely for fulfilling their journalistic duties chills media freedom and expression.

Further complicating matters, the wife of the captain was under investigation for allegedly drugging him and distributing explicit materials. Although this aspect of the case was likely to result in charges, the investigation was dropped due to her mental health issues. Ævarsdóttir remarked on the repeated references to the suspect’s illness, suggesting it was used to justify the prolonged designation of journalists as suspects.

She calls for the establishment of independent oversight of police practices, noting that the current oversight committee is underpowered and unable to take significant action. The police department has not responded to media inquiries regarding this sensitive case, in which most of the journalists involved work or have worked at the national broadcaster.