Jussanam da Silva, who only months ago faced possible deportation from Iceland, has finally been granted a permanent residence permit.
As Grapevine reported, Jussanam’s legal status in Iceland was called into question after she divorced her Icelandic husband. She was denied a residence permit twice last year, and faced the possibility of deportation. Her case drew a great deal of public attention, and people called upon authorities to let her stay.
Vísir now reports that she has been granted a permanent residence permit, on the grounds of her “strong connection to the Icelandic nation and its people”. Jussanam has lived in Iceland for several years, has a child here, and is best known in Iceland as a critically-acclaimed jazz singer.
“I think this is a victory for the people who supported me, and not least of all a victory for women,” she told Vísir.
Jussanam now plans to apply for citizenship, and is optimistic that she will receive it on the same grounds that she was granted her residence permit. For now, though, her next step is to go back to working again – something she could not do while she had no legal residence here.
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!
