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Iceland

Iceland regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. In 2017, Iceland implemented ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) and Prosecutors and Hate Crimes Training (PAHCT) programmes. Refresher TAHCLE and PAHCT train-the-trainer workshops were delivered by ODIHR in 2024.

Hate crime data collection in Iceland
Support for hate crime victims in Iceland
Hate crime capacity building in Iceland
Iceland's hate crime legislation
 

SELECT YEAR

  • 2024
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Download the 2024 hate crime report for Iceland

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2024 19 Not available Not available
2023 15 Not available Not available
2022 8 Not available Not available
2021 15 Not available Not available
2020 4 0 0
2019 11 0 0
2018 7 1 2
2017 14 1 3
2016 6 0 0
2015 10 Not available Not available
2014 8 Not available Not available
2013 Not available Not available Not available
2012 6 Not available Not available
2011 1 Not available Not available
2010 2 Not available Not available
2009 Not available 0 0

Hate crime recorded by police

  • By bias motivation
  • By type of crime
Download official data
Download official data

National developments

In 2024, two awareness-raising campaigns were conducted in Iceland. Supported by the government, the Directorate of Equality launched a campaign to encourage people to reflect on the power of their words. The campaign formed part of promoting increased equality in Icelandic society and combating hate speech and its roots, such as prejudice, negative stereotypes, and the marginalization of minorities. The Harmless (Meinlaust) campaign is an awareness-raising initiative aimed at addressing microaggressions and subtle forms of harassment faced by marginalized groups. By sharing real stories, the campaign illustrates everyday instances of microaggressions and their cumulative impact. It aims to address implicit biases, raising awareness of the subtle yet harmful effects of such behaviours, encouraging reflection and societal change.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes Iceland's efforts to strengthen the capacity of the police and prosecutors to address hate crimes by implementing ODIHR’s TAHCLE and PAHCT programmes. However, based on the available information, it observes that Iceland has not reported data on hate crimes recorded by the prosecution and judiciary to ODIHR. In addition, ODIHR observes that Iceland would benefit from further reviewing the existing legal framework to ensure that bias motivations can be effectively acknowledged and appropriate penalties imposed on the perpetrators.

ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States committed to collecting reliable data and statistics in sufficient detail on hate crimes and to report such data periodically to ODIHR. Participating States also committed to enacting specific, tailored legislation to combat hate crimes, providing for effective penalties that take into account the gravity of such crimes. ODIHR stands ready to support Iceland in meeting the relevant commitments through its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as by providing further legislative guidance and advice.


Our methodology
 

OVERVIEW OF INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY

For 2024, ODIHR received reports of hate incidents in Iceland from the following civil society organizations: 

  • Samtökin ’78
  • European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses

To learn more about these organizations, visit the Contributors page.

All incidents submitted by the above organizations have been analysed by ODIHR. Those that are broadly considered to be hate crimes within the OSCE definition (criminal offence committed with a bias motive) are listed in the tables below according to the bias motivation category. Some incidents involved multiple biases and may be listed in multiple categories.

ODIHR’s insights

For 2024, ODIHR received reports of 15 incidents that took place in Iceland in the following bias motivation categories: anti-LGBTI, and gender-based. In addition, several incidents involved multiple bias motives, such as gender-based and anti-LGBTI, or anti-LGBTI and racist and anti-Christian.

ODIHR observes that the incidents targeting the LGBTI community often took place around the annual LGBTI-Pride event or were related to the destruction of LGBTI flags and symbols. A few incidents targeting trans women involved particularly violent physical assaults. 

It should be noted that ODIHR did not receive any reporting on Iceland relating to anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, other religion or belief, or disability hate incidents. Therefore, there are likely to be gaps in the information reported here.

Please note that incidents reported here are based on voluntary civil society submissions and as such might not reflect the actual number of incidents or the most targeted communities in Iceland.

To address under-reporting, ODIHR encourages any civil society organizations or groups that monitor hate incidents in Iceland to report these to ODIHR at hatecrimereport@odihr.pl. 

To export an Excel sheet with summaries of all incidents from Iceland click here and search by year and country.

CIVIL SOCIETY INCIDENT SUMMARIES

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2024-10 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2024-02 Attacks against property
Jehovah's Witnesses
Show info

Gender-based hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2024-04 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-07 Threats/Harassment
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-10 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-02 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-02 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2024-05 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-07 Attacks against property
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-08 Attacks against property
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-08 Attacks against property
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-08 Attacks against property
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-09 Attacks against property
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-04 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-07 Threats/Harassment
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-07 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-08 Attacks against property
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-08 Threats/Harassment
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-10 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-02 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info
2024-02 Violent attacks against people
Samtökin '78 - The National Queer Association of Iceland
Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.

Contact Us

Email tndinfo@odihr.pl
Tel +48 22 520 06 00
Fax +48 22 520 06 05
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department
Ul. Miodowa 10
00-251
Warsaw, Poland

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