Syria
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Syrian Family, Including Pregnant Mother And Young Child, Face Deportation
A Syrian family, comprised of a father, pregnant mother and two-year-old child, have been informed by the Directorate of Immigration (ÚTL) that their case file for international protection in Iceland will not even be examined, and they will be deported to Greece,…
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Iceland Condemns Turkish Incursions On Kurds, Will Still Visit Turkey For Football Match
While the Icelandic government has issued a strongly-worded written statement condemning the Turkish invasion of northern Syria, the Icelandic national men’s team will still be visiting Turkey to play a football match against that country’s national men’s team next month. “Iceland strongly…
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Kurdish Man In Iceland “Not Surprised” By Trump’s Syria Withdrawal, Fears For Lives Of Kurds
Salah Karim, a Kurdish man living in Iceland and a long-time advocate for Kurdish liberation, spoke frankly with the Grapevine about the recent news that US President Donald Trump plans to withdraw US forces from northern Syria to allow for Turkey to…
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Syrian Refugees Arrive In Iceland, Surprised By Lack Of Snow
Five families of Syria refugees will soon be settled in Hvammstangi, northwest Iceland, having arrived in Keflavík this morning full of hope and gratitude. RÚV reports that 23 Syrian refugees arrived at Keflavík International Airport this morning. From here, they will travel…
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The Peacemaker: The Legacy of Haukur Hilmarsson
It may be hard to believe now, but there was a time when Icelanders adamantly believed that protesting was just not something they do. Sure, there were riots when Parliament voted to join NATO in 1949, but apart from that, the running…
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Mother Of Icelander Fallen In Syria Issues Open Letter To UK & Iceland Governments
Haukur Hilmarsson’s mother, Eva Hauksdóttir, has issued an open letter to the governments of Iceland and the UK, imploring them “to confront Turkish authorities on their obligations to the dead.” As reported, Haukur distinguished himself in Raqqa, where he rose to the…
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Icelander Reportedly On Their Way To Syria To Search For Haukur Hilmarsson
An Icelander of as yet unknown identity says they are planning to travel to Afrin, Syria soon to search for Haukur Hilmarsson, who reportedly went missing in the region last February. The plans were made public in a lengthy Imgur thread posted…
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Friends Of Icelandic Man Missing In Syria “Disappointed” By PM’s Response
Friends of Haukur Hilmarsson say they are “deeply disappointed” by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir’s response to their open letter to her, and demand “an honourable response” in the form of demonstrable action that the Icelandic government is trying to locate Haukur or…
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Open Letter To Iceland’s PM Demands Action In Bringing Home Man Missing In Syria
50 days have passed since Haukur Hilmarsson was reportedly killed in action in Syria, and some 400 Icelanders have released an open letter to Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir calling upon her to take more decisive action in finding and bringing him home.…
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Monday News Edit: What Are Icelanders Talking About?
As we get ready to enjoy what is expected to be one of the best days of summer, we also ponder over what has been on Icelanders’ minds of late besides studded snow tires and the upcoming elections. Here’s a round-up of…
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Bombing Of Syria Sparks Divided Opinions Within Iceland’s Government
Members of Iceland’s Parliament appear sharply divided over the bombing of Syria, conducted by the US, UK and France last Saturday. Iceland, while having no military of its own, is a NATO country. These two facts nearly always create contention within Iceland’s…
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VIDEO: Friends Of Icelander Missing In Syria Demand Answers From Parliament
Friends and supporters of Haukur Hilmarsson, who was reportedly killed in Syria last February, disrupted Parliament last Tuesday to implore the government to take real action in finding him. Other questions have since arisen as to how neither he nor his remains…
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Iceland’s PM Brings Up Haukur Hilmarsson Case With Angela Merkel
On the occasion of meeting Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel last Monday, Katrín Jakobsdóttir asked for help in the case of an Icelander who likely fell in Afrin last month. Turkish authorities have contended they do not have Haukur Hilmarsson in custody.…
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Icelandic Peace Activist Vindicated 16 Years After The Fact
Icelanders were recently shocked and appalled to learn that Icelandic airline Air Atlanta had made dozens of trips, from eastern Europe to Saudi Arabia, delivering many weapons of war to that country, including the internationally-banned landmines. This was done with the knowledge…
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Family Of Icelander Fallen In Syria Criticise Official Response Of Authorities
The family of Haukur Hilmarsson, who reportedly fell in combat in Afrin, Syria, have released a statement criticising the “ineffectualness” and lack of responsibility being taken by authorities. As Haukur’s family continue their search for any signs of where Haukur or his…
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Pro-Assad Writers Hold Conference In Iceland
The news of the death of Haukur Hilmarsson, an Icelandic activist and anarchist who in all likelihood was killed fighting Turkish forces in Afrin, Syria last month, has sent shock waves through the Icelandic community. His death has brought the Kurdish cause…
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Monday News Edit: What Are Icelanders Talking About?
It’s been a busy week, with good and sad news alike, and with a good dose of sunshine to warm up these icy cold days. But what has been on Icelanders’ minds as of late besides the latest round of flu? Here’s…
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Mother Of Icelander Killed In Syria Pleas For More Information
The mother of Haukur Hilmarsson, who was reportedly killed in combat in Afrin last month, has issued another plea to the world for more information about her son. The International Freedom Battalion (IFB), for whom he fought, have promised to relay all…
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Refugee Children See The Snow For The First Time
If their arrival to Iceland weren’t already a moment to cherish, the magical snowfall that welcomed the group of refugees arriving from Syria to the Westfjörds yesterday morning made it a truly memorable day. Local news outlet RÚV was there to record…
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Icelander Reportedly Killed In Action In Afrin
Icelandic activist Haukur Hilmarsson was reportedly killed in combat in Afrin, Syria. He was 32 years old. According to a post from the International Freedom Battalion (IFB), a group of international fighters working alongside the YPG in Syria, this was his second…
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Iceland’s Foreign Ministry Making Changes Due To Weapons Shipments To Saudi Arabia
In response to recent news that weapons bound for Saudi Arabia have been transported through Iceland some 25 times, the power to grant flight permits through Iceland will be moved from the Transport Authority to the Foreign Ministry. Minister of Foreign Affairs…
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MP Slams Iceland’s Government Over Weapons Shipments Through Country
Weapons being shipped knowingly and illegally through Iceland to Saudi Arabia was a hot topic of discussion in Iceland’s parliament yesterday. Left-Green MP Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir called the news “deadly serious” and “utterly opposed” to Iceland’s foreign policy. Iceland’s Foreign Minister has…
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Integration Of Syrian Refugees Reportedly Going Well
All of the Syrian refugees brought to Iceland last year are reportedly integrating well into Icelandic society, and local authorities are continuing efforts to help new arrivals get settled as well, although challenges remain. Of the 56 Syrian refugees who arrived last…