ASt. Cloud Times, Saint Cloud, Minnesota, Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - Page 2
Iceland grants Fischer citizenship
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Iceland, the country where Bobby Fischer won the world chess championship a generation ago, granted citizenship to the 62-year-old recluse Monday — a boost to Fischer's efforts to fight deportation from Japan to the United States.
Fischer, who is wanted by the United States for violating economic sanctions against the former Yugoslavia by playing a highly publicized match in 1992 in that country, has been in Japanese custody since July 13. He was detained while trying to board a flight with an invalid passport.
Immigration officials in Iceland said a passport for Fischer could be ready as early as Tuesday.
The legislation, which passed with 40 members of parliament voting in favor and two abstaining, took effect immediately. The 21 other members of the Althingi were absent.
In Washington, the State Department declined comment, citing laws governing rights to privacy in such situations. Fischer has the authority to waive his privacy rights has not done so.
Fischer and his supporters have staged high-profile attempts to fight the deportation order.
“I am very pleased with this and I think that the dignity of the parliament has increased,” said Saemundur Palsson, a Fischer supporter, after the parliamentary vote.
There is widespread support for Fischer in Iceland, and the parliament's approval had been expected. The bill went through the required three readings in 12 minutes.
The Japanese government had no immediate reaction. But Palsson has claimed Japan confirmed it would allow him to go to Iceland if citizenship was granted.
A federal grand jury in Washington, meanwhile, is investigating money-laundering charges involving Fischer, Richard J. Vattuone, one of his lawyers said.
Fischer was reported to have received $3.5 million from the competition in the former Yugoslavia. He boasted at the time that he didn't intend to pay any income tax on the money.
