Gad Saad Invites Iceland to Think Differently

Has Iceland Become Woke Central? Professor Gad Saad was recently interviewed by host Frosti Logason on a Spjallsins með Frosta Logasyni to promote his upcoming appearance at Harpa’s prestigious Silfurberg venue in Iceland.

Gad (a name of one of the tribes of Israel but a slightly different twist in English 😉) Saad shared that he’s heard only glowing things about Iceland. He expressed genuine excitement for his visit, having been told by others that Iceland is life-changing and full of kind, down-to-earth people.

What Will He Be Speaking About in Iceland?

According to the interview, Dr. Saad will focus on the same themes he has explored in his books and public talks: the dangers of ideologies like wokeism, postmodernism, cultural relativism, and identity politics. He’ll examine how these ideas impact societies, institutions, and our collective ability to discern truth from falsehood.

He also emphasizes the importance of protecting Western values and encourages people to "activate their inner honey badger" - a call to stand up courageously against ideological pressures and to defend truth at all costs.

Icelandic Media Reaction

During the interview, Frosti brought up the Icelandic media’s response to Saad’s visit. In a recent article, a journalist described him as a "controversial academic", even going as far as calling him “the worst Zionist on the internet.” The article accused him of promoting “a lack of compassion,” particularly regarding sensitive topics like transgender issues, women’s rights, and Islam. Saad pushed back, saying that his concept of "suicidal empathy" has been taken out of context. He supports compassion, but not the kind that harms victims in the name of virtue (such as showing empathy toward a rapist over the victim).On the claim that he’s anti-women, Saad said:

“I defend women’s rights more on an average Monday morning than that journalist does in a lifetime.”He cites examples: protecting women from sexual violence in the Middle East, advocating for women’s right to fair competition in sports, and opposing biological males using female showers.

Regarding the accusation of Islamophobia, he clarifies: “I criticize ideas, not people. I’m friends with many Muslims and even imams. This isn’t about hate, it’s about values.”

When reminded of the Zionist label, Saad responded with irony. He recalled being invited in 2017 to testify before the Canadian Senate on biological sex. When he stated that there are only two sexes, a senator accused him of "promoting genocide against trans people." His reply: a“You might want to be careful accusing someone who escaped genocide in Lebanon of promoting one.”

A Life of Seeking Truth

Saad was born in Beirut in 1964 to a secular Jewish family from the city’s educated middle class. At the time, Beirut was known as the "Paris of the Middle East", a vibrant, cosmopolitan city. But beneath the surface, religious and sectarian tensions brewed. When the brutal Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1975, life became increasingly dangerous, not just for Christians but also for Jews, Druze, and moderate Muslims. Saad and his family fled within days and resettled in Canada.

In Montreal, Saad embarked on an impressive academic journey: mathematics, computer science, business, and eventually a PhD from Cornell. But what truly set him apart wasn’t just academic excellence, it was his curiosity and courage to ask hard questions. In recent years, he’s become a global public intellectual, known for his bold critique of "woke culture," academic politicization, and what he sees as ideological censorship in the name of progress.

Though secular, skeptical, and often critical of Israel or anything labeled “Jewish,” Saad uses his platform not to talk religion or narrow politics, but to advocate for freedom. Freedom for everyone, from every background, to think independently, to question authority, and to remain intellectually curious, even when it’s unpopular.

🎫 You can hear him speak in person on Monday, June 2nd at 19:30 at the Silfurberg Venue in Harpa, Reykjavík.👉 Get your tickets here 🎟️ Watch Gad full interview with Frosti here