Snowden revealed himself as the source of the National Security Agency leak. Iceland pol, group help with asylum

The man who claims to be the source of the National Security Agency leak has an ally in Iceland’s Parliament, according to a statement from an Icelandic lawmaker and a media freedom organization.

Edward Snowden, who revealed his identity as the source of the story through The Guardian, is reported to be staying in Hong Kong and seeking asylum outside the United States, possibly in Iceland, according to The Guardian.


Icelandic lawmaker Birgitta Jónsdóttir and Smari McCarthy, executive director of the International Modern Media Institute, released a statement Sunday supporting Snowden and saying their organization will try to help him find asylum, according to Forbes.com.

“Whereas IMMI is based in Iceland, and has worked on protections of privacy, furtherance of government transparency, and the protection of whistleblowers,we feel it is our duty to offer to assist and advise Mr. Snowden to the greatest of our ability,” Jónsdóttir and McCarthy write. “We are currently attempting to get in touch with Mr. Snowden to confirm that this is his will and discuss the details of his asylum request … and will over the course of the week be seeking a meeting with the newly appointed interior minister of Iceland, Mrs. Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, to discuss whether an asylum request can be processed in a swift manner, should such an application be made.”

A reporter for The Guardian told Sky News that Iceland is likely Snowden’s best bet, CBS News reported. “His best option is maybe asylum in someplace like Iceland. That’s his best chance. He realizes himself the likeliest option is he could end up in prison,” said Ewen MacAskill.