British activist facing jail in Iceland after protesting against whale hunting
British activist who ‘didn’t want whales to be murdered’ facing jail
- British activist Elyssia Phillips and her Iranian friend Anahita Babaei face potential jail time in Iceland after protesting whaling by climbing a whaling boat mast and staying there for 33 hours.
- The pair were charged with three criminal offences after being arrested in September 2023 for protesting the killing of endangered fin whales, a practice Iceland continues despite an international ban.
- Ms Phillips and Ms Babaei argue their actions were peaceful civil disobedience, while their lawyers claim Icelandic police are cracking down on protesters. “We didn’t want the whales to be murdered,” Ms Phillips said.
- The activists claim they were "manhandled" during their arrest and that police took their food and medical supplies during the 33-hour protest.
- Unable to apply for visas and facing potential legal fees, Ms Phillips and Ms Babaei have launched a GoFundMe to fight the charges.