Iceland- Mayor of Reykjavík Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjámsson has requested a police investigation into the legality of a planned conference of representatives of the adult film industry to be held in Iceland next month.

The mayor made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday. He said he is saddened by the fact that such a conference is to take place in Reykjavík, as Fréttabladid reports.

Vilhjálmsson would like to determine whether attendees of this conference, labeled SnowGathering, could be involved in child pornography. The conference is to take place in Radisson SAS Hotel in Reykjavík from March 7 to 11.

“We are very pleased by the mayor’s reaction,” Gudrún Jónsdóttir, spokesperson of Stígamót, told Fréttabladid. Last week Stígamót (the Icelandic Counseling and Information Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence) sent a letter challenging authorities to prevent the conference.

“We are investigating this case in cooperation with the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police,” said Stefán Eiríksson, Reykjavík Chief of Police. “We intend to find out what is involved and whether it is illegal.”

Minister of Trade Jón Sigurdsson said the conference could possibly be a platform for “modern slavery.” He said that was “unacceptable” and said he was certain the police would prevent it from happening.

“I am shocked by the reaction of Icelandic authorities to this conference,” Scott Hjorleifsson told Fréttabladid, who plans to attend the SnowGathering conference next month.

Hjorleifsson is a Canadian of Icelandic origin and he runs the pornography website sleazydream.com. “For the first time in my life I am ashamed for having Icelandic blood in my veins,” he said.

One of SnowGathering’s organizers, Christina Pong, sent a statement to Fréttabladid saying she was surprised by the reaction to the conference. She emphasized that there would be no “pornographic behavior” in public.

Hrönn Greipsdóttir, the manager of Radisson SAS Hotel, where the conference is to take place, said it is not common practice to question guests about what they plan to do in Iceland and the purpose of their trip.

If there is anything illegal going on it is in the hands of the authorities, but it is not the role of the hotel to take a moral stand in matters like these, Greipsdóttir said.

Back Story: The Icelandic Counseling and Information Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence (Stígamót) has openly protested against an adult film industry conference scheduled to be held in Iceland next month.

Stígamót sent a letter protesting against the event this week, signed by the organization’s spokesperson Gudrún Jónsdóttir, to the Icelandic government, the parliament, Reykjavík City Council, Reykjavík Chief of Police and the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police. Ruv.is reports.

In the letter it says: “Dear persons of authority. In Iceland we have shown that if we do not want representatives of organized crime in our country, we can stop them. […] At Stígamót we do not believe this conference should be tolerated. We challenge you […] to prevent it.”

Stígamót became aware of the adult film industry conference, titled “SnowGathering,” through a press release from PR Adult News, which was issued on January 27. It is cited on Stígamót’s website:

“Freeones.com announced today the date for the second SnowGathering. It will be held in Reykjavík – Iceland, from the 7th till the 11th of March 2007. SnowGathering is a chance to conduct business, meet new people and discuss business developments […].”

In the press release, owner of Freeones.com, Maurice, is quoted saying: “This year we are aiming for approximately 150 attendees. […] We have chosen Reykjavík because of the possibilities of multiple in- and outdoor activities and its infamous nightlife.”

According to Stígamót, Freeones.com links to pornography websites such as Sleazydream.com, which among other things, contains information on how to access prostitutes in Iceland.

“Pornography is prostitution in pictures and prostitution is the reason human trafficking thrives. […]. Pornography is prohibited in Iceland,” the letter from Stígamót states.