After months of delays, on June 19, Talk Liberation finally had our day in court in Reykjavik, Iceland against major bank Islandsbanki,challenging the wrongful freezing of our $1 million seed funding in 2022. Brand Ambassador John Kiriakou and Media Director Fiorella Isabel attended the hearing, where with our winning Wikileaks team of lawyers, we secured a critical concession against the bank: the judge ordered the bank to produce witnesses at the next hearing on September 2, 2025.
Some Key Highlights From the Hearing
- Our legal team flipped the script on Islandsbanki to justify its actions against us. The judge agreed, demanding the bank present witnesses. The bank’s deliberate delays and obstructions laid bare its reluctance to face scrutiny, showing that no financial giants should be above the law.
- Powerful Testimony: Our founder Suzie Dawson dismantled the bank’s narrative with documented proof that Talk Liberation met all due diligence requirements. When the bank asked why we didn’t “just find another bank,” Suzie responded, “This is victim blaming. It’s like cutting someone’s legs off and asking why they can’t walk. Islandsbanki must reveal what they wrote in the AML system—the very reason other banks reject us.” Another key witness also corroborated Suzie’s entire testimony, confirming the bank’s deliberate obstruction.
- Economic Harm to Iceland: Talk Liberation’s major tech investment would have benefited Iceland’s economy. As Suzie noted, “It’s not just us…damaged by Islandsbanki—it’s Iceland as well.”
The bank tried deflecting blame by citing Suzie’s recent de-banking in New Zealand, where Kiwibank closed her account without explanation. But a formal complaint uncovered mishandled records and suspicious inconsistencies, revealing these were not isolated incidents but systemic financial targeting.
As Wikileaks’ lawyer Sveinn Andri Sveinsson noted, “After Islandsbanki froze Talk Liberation’s funds, they lodged a Suspicious Activity Report, making it impossible to secure banking services in Iceland.”
This case isn’t just about us—it’s about holding financial institutions accountable for unjust de-banking practices.
The fight continues on September 2, when Islandsbanki must present witnesses. This procedural victory proves even Goliaths can be challenged.
How You Can Help:
- Follow updates at BadBanki.com.
- Share our story and read our full press release and Substack.
Financial transparency is a right, not a privilege. This is about more than Talk Liberation—it’s about justice for anyone unfairly excluded from or persecuted by powerful financial titans.