Iceland wants Bobby Fischer

2005-03-21 23:44

Reykjavik - Chess legend Bobby Fischer was on Monday granted citizenship by the parliament of Iceland, a move which could allow him to avoid deportation from Japan to the United States where he is wanted for violating sanctions against the former Yugoslavia.

"It is done. The decision is valid from today," Atli Gislason, a deputy from the Left-Green movement, told AFP.

Fischer, 62, who is in detention in Japan, faces prison if he returns to the United States.

The former grandmaster, known for his maverick behaviour and outspoken criticism of the United States, may face 10 years in prison if convicted of violating US sanctions imposed on the former Yugoslavia by playing there in 1992.

But last week Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Japanese opposition Social Democratic Party, told a press conference that Japanese immigration officials would not deport Fischer to the United States if Iceland grants him nationality.

All 40 members of parliament who cast their votes were in favour of the motion to grant Fischer citizenship, while two deputies abstained, and 21 were absent.

Iceland had previously sent Fischer a passport which showed residency status but not full nationality, a document not deemed sufficient to save him from deportation to the United States.

Fischer's link to Iceland dates back to 1972, when he defeated Russian Boris Spassky in a world championship match, which ended a long domination of the game by Soviet players and was hailed as a Cold War victory in his native United States.

He was taken into custody in Japan last July for trying to leave the country on an invalid US passport.

- AFP