Refugees
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Government Divided Over Mass Deportations, Bishop Publicly Opposes Them
The planned mass deportation of nearly 300 people, many of whom have been living in Iceland for two years or longer, is not only being criticised by human rights groups, activists, the parliamentary opposition and numerous others–it has also drawn criticism from…
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Nothing Stopping Government From Granting People International Protection
Intense debate is still ongoing in Parliament following recent news that Iceland plans to deport some 300 people from the country. Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson has repeatedly stated that the government is only following the law but, as many have pointed…
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Numerous Objections Raised As Iceland Prepares To Deport Hundreds
The Icelandic government is preparing to deport some 300 people from the country who applied for international protection in Iceland over two years ago. A great many of these of these people will be sent to Greece on spurious grounds and with…
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Controversial Bill On Asylum Seekers Hits Parliamentary Floor
Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson has submitted a bill to Parliament that would make significant changes to the law regarding those seeking international protection in Iceland. This is the fourth attempt being made to pass this bill, which has received considerable pushback…
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Foreign Minister Not Ruling Out Expelling Russian Ambassador; 26 Municipalities Ready To Receive Ukrainian Refugees
Following the horrifying details of the massacre of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine by Russian forces last week, many countries are already in talks about levying stricter sanctions against Russia. [su_pullquote]Not in Iceland for a while but still want to read our new…
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Ukrainian Refugees Moved Due To Children Terrified Of Airplanes Flying Nearby
As Iceland continues to accept refugees from Ukraine, logistical changes have had to be met for various reasons. RÚV reports that dozens of refugees have had to be moved from housing in Ásbrú in Keflavík due to its proximity to airplanes taking…
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Those Who Left And Those Who Stayed, Part 1: The Uncanny Proximity Of War
On the morning of February 24th, the world woke to the news that after weeks of sabre rattling, Russia had invaded Ukraine. Since then, some four million people have fled the country, while others have opted to stay—to fight, to volunteer assistance,…
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Ukrainian Children Stranded In Warsaw Due To Lack Of Passports
Ukrainian children along with their mothers were not allowed to board a flight to Iceland due to lack of biometric passports, Visír reports. They are now stuck at the airport in Warsaw. [su_pullquote]We have over 60 kinds of Icelandic candy in our…
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Iceland & Ukraine: Iceland Could Accept Up To 2,000 Ukrainian Refugees, Russian Embassy Vandalised
Up to 2,000 Ukrainian refugees could come to Iceland and apply for international protection, RÚV reports, and Vísir reports that the Minister of Justice will be allowing these refugees to apply for asylum in Iceland without having to go through the usual…
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Iceland & Ukraine: Refugee Committee Reaching A Conclusion, NATO Traffic Will Increase At Airport
As Parliament struggles with the subject of refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere, Vísir reports that the Refugee Committee is just about prepared to reach a decision on how many Ukrainian refugees to accept and when. [su_pullquote]Easter is drawing closer and now we…
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Iceland & Ukraine: Justice Minister Slammed, Russian Vodka Off Shelves, Street May Change Name
As Iceland is still in the process of deciding how many Ukrainian refugees to accept and when, Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson faced fierce opposition in Parliament yesterday when he attempted to push through a bill proposing changes to the Law On…
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Iceland & Ukraine: Art Auction For Ukraine, Gov’t Pays For Cargo Shipment, Minister Promises More Help
As the war rages on in Ukraine, Icelanders are pooling their resources to find ways to help. Amongst these is an art auction happening this Sunday, both at Gallery Port and Vinstukan, starting at 15:00 and lasting well until 21:30. [su_pullquote]Easter is…
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Invasion Of Ukraine: Protests Continue, Iceland’s Government Responds, Telecoms Offer Free Calls To Ukraine
Following last week’s protests held by Russian citizens and others in Iceland against the Russian invasion, more protests were held over the weekend. [su_pullquote]Tired of winter? Grapevine’s Box Of Winter Darkness will keep your spirits up until spring – click here for…
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Russians Protest Invasion, Refugee Committee To Discuss Ukraine
A large gathering of Russian citizens and others opposed to the invasion of Ukraine gathered near the Russian embassy in downtown Reykjavík yesterday, Vísir reports. [su_pullquote]Tired of winter? Grapevine’s Box Of Winter Darkness will keep your spirits up until spring – click…
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Largest Portion Of Icelanders Believes Country Accepts Too Few Refugees
A new poll from Market and Media Research asked Icelanders whether they believe too many, too few or just enough refugees are granted asylum in Iceland. The largest share—39%—believe Iceland accepts too few, but there are stark differences when these demographics are…
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Artist Erik DeLuca Shows Iceland’s Failure In The Holocaust
December 10th, 1938: The Ministry of Justice receives a letter from 27-year-old Telmar and Paula Toller and their four-week-old son Denny. Jews from Berlin, they plead for a residence and work permit to Iceland. Telmar was an engineer, electrician and baker. One…
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Disappointment, Unanswered Questions Follow Gov’t Afghan Refugee Announcement
Yesterday, over a week after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, the Icelandic government announced that the country would be accepting up to 120 Afghan refugees. The plan of action is complicated, and has left many Afghans in Iceland disappointed. At…
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Demonstrators Implore Government To Rescue Afghans, Gov’t To Accept 120
A group of about two dozen demonstrators, most of them Afghans who live in Iceland, turned out in front of Parliament yesterday afternoon to implore the Icelandic government to rescue as many Afghans as possible from the country, RÚV reports. Many of…
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Iceland Still Mulling Over How To Accept Afghan Refugees
As larger countries such as the UK and Canada have already pledged to accept a set number of refugees fleeing Afghanistan, the matter is still in committee in Iceland. Following the fall of Kabul, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir was asked directly whether…
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Reykjavík Health Clinics Will No Longer Give Police Refugee Vaccination Certificates
While it is still unclear whether or not Reykjavík Health Services (RHS) can give the police vaccination certificates to then give to asylum seekers in Iceland, Vísir reports that the RHS have decided to stop the practice, and instead deliver the certificates…
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One Hospitalised, Other Deported After Violent Arrest At Immigration Centre
Of the two Palestinian men who were violently arrested last Tuesday at the immigration office at Bæjarhraun 18, one has since been deported to Greece, and the other was hospitalised from his injuries at the hands of police. Deportations to Greece remain…
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Two Palestinians Forcefully Arrested At Immigration Centre, Police Confiscate Evidence
At around noon today, two Palestinian men were arrested at the immigration centre at Bæjarhraun 18. Eyewitness reports told of police beatings, and the police confiscating the phone of one witness who was documenting the incident, later deleting the material. This was…
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Cleaning House: ÚTL, Evictions and Deportations to Greece
Last spring, the Directorate of Immigration (ÚTL) made an executive decision that would thrust the institution into the spotlight of criticism that extended from the general public and into the halls of Parliament: evicting asylum seekers from their housing, denying them even…