Iceland stripped of its strippers

The last remaining strip club in Iceland has lost its ability to host strip shows. The club’s license was taken away when a new law required all clubs to acquire permission from six different bodies in order to receive a permit. One of those six bodies is the Chief of Police who has refused the request of the Goldfinger club in Kópavogur.

Since the law took effect on July 1st, the owner of Goldfinger, Ásgeir Davídsson says no stripping has taken place. He claims the girls in his establishment are not completely naked and therefore he is in compliance with the legislation. Nevertheless, he would like a permit and plans to appeal the police chief’s decision at the Ministry of Justice.

“I feel like I’m living in a police state where it’s up to one man what will happen,” he said.

Legislation was passed in March which prohibits the use of nudity in the promotion of venues. Private dancing is also illegal as is fraternising with customers. Clubs which get good reports and permission from health and safety officials and the local police, can reapply for their permits.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, Ragna Árnadóttir explained the laws: “The main purpose of the act was to simplify the procedures in order to obtain licenses for restaurants and hotels and to reduce the number of licenses applicants must obtain.”

Prostitution, on the other hand, was recently legalised in Iceland. . “I think this is very very stupid,” said Davídsson. “It is impossible for me to understand. I don’t think that the members of Parliament that are making these decisions have much in their heads. It’s very confusing. At the end of the day we will have to be fully clothed at the swimming pool.”

Miss Julie King, a former dancer at Goldfinger and the operator of a Table Dance Agency in the UK said: “Goldfinger is a very professional club to work in – you really feel you are being well looked after here.”