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Asylum Seekers Subjected To Possibly Illegal Restriction Of Movement
Asylum seekers at the Arnarholt shelter have their movements restricted in a manner that might violate Icelandic law. It has also come to light that the original intent of the shelter – which included Icelandic language classes and other activities for asylum…
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The Dega Family Is Back In Iceland
The Albanian family that were deported last spring are finally back in Iceland, and ready to pick up where they left off. Vísir reports that the family have newly returned, and want nothing more than to continue to live the life they…
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Leaving The Church For Helping Asylum Seekers
A local police chief is so upset that Laugarneskirkja church provided sanctuary to asylum seekers that he is de-registering himself from the church. Vísir reports that Ólafur Helgi Kjartansson, the chief of police in Suðurnes, has left the church over last week’s…
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Documents Contradict Immigration’s Contentions
A recently deported Iraqi asylum seeker is only 16-years-old, new documentation shows, contradicting assertions from the Directorate of Immigration (UTL) that he is an adult. Ali Nasir, an asylum seeker from Iraq, was amongst those dragged from church by police and sent…
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MP Criticises Church For Providing Asylum Seekers Sanctuary
A conservative MP has called for the church’s funding to be cut for providing Iraqi asylum seekers with sanctuary, accusing the church of obstructing justice – an accusation contradicted by video evidence. Stundin reports that Independence Party MP Brynjar Níelsson accused the…
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Deported Iraqis Now In Norwegian Jail, President-Elect Displeased
The Iraqi asylum seekers deported from Iceland earlier this week are now in Norwegian jail, and will soon be sent back to Iraq. President-elect Guðni Th. Jóhannesson has expressed his disapproval of the deportation, and it has come to light that police…
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Iraqi Deportation “An Example Of A Rule Applied Mercilessly”
A lawyer for the Red Cross has harshly criticised the deportation of an Iraqi youth as being harsh and unnecessary. “This is a really good example of when the Dublin Regulation is applied in the merciless way that is actually done,” Red…
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Interior Ministry Confirms: No Volunteers Or Journalists For Asylum Seekers
Citing “humanitarian reasons”, the Interior Ministry has confirmed UTL’s policy of forbidding volunteers and journalists from visiting asylum seekers where they live – even if the asylum seekers themselves invited them. Stundin reports that the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the…
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Iraqi Teenager Dragged From Church By Police, Faces Deportation
Video shows a 16-year-old Iraqi boy was amongst the asylum seekers dragged out of an Icelandic church’s sanctuary, and faces deportation back to his home country. Stundin reports that Toshiki Toma, the Lutheran church’s minister for immigrants, and Kristín Þórunn Tómasdóttir, the…
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Volunteers Forbidden From Visiting Asylum Seekers
An immigration official told one volunteer the visits are banned because “making their home lives easier is not on offer.” Stundin reports that volunteers who attempt to visit any of the group homes housing asylum seekers have been banned from these locations.…
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“We Have An Inherently Flawed System” – Meet The Two Icelanders Who Tried To Stop A Deportation
The Grapevine caught up with Ragnheiður Freyja Kristínardóttir and Jórunn Edda Helgadóttir, the Icelanders who were arrested yesterday for trying to stop the deportation of Eze Okafor. As reported, the two attempted to elicit the support of other passengers on the plane…
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“This Is About Human Life” – Eze Tells His Story
The Grapevine was able to reach Eze Okafor, a Nigerian asylum seeker who had been living in Iceland for four years, fleeing persecution from Boko Haram. Despite an opinion from the Immigration Appeals Board last week that he cannot be deported on…
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UTL Ignores Appeals Board, Deports Asylum Seeker Anyway
Despite a ruling from the Immigration Appeals Board that a Nigerian man who sought asylum four years ago cannot be deported on the grounds of the Dublin Regulation, The Grapevine has learned that he was arrested this afternoon, taken into custody, and…
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Vietnamese Couple Win Against Immigration Directorate
The Data Protection Authority has found in favour of a Vietnamese couple whose marriage made headlines last October, when the two were falsely accused of conducting a scam for getting a residence permit. Last year, Thi Thuy Nguyen and Hao Van Tio…
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Ombudsman Wants Answers From Immigration Directorate
The Parliamentary Ombudsman wants to know how the Immigration Directorate processed the cases of two Albanian asylum seeker families, and has issued a formal letter to that effect. Meanwhile, the parliamentary Judicial Affairs and Education Committee has received applications for citizenship from…
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Deported Albanian Family May Receive Citizenship
One of the Albanian families deported last week has a good chance of receiving Icelandic citizenship, as there is strong support for granting them citizenship within the parliamentary Judicial Affairs and Education Committee. Kjarninn reports that RÚV’s midday news broadcast has just…
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Parliamentarians Argue Over Deported Albanian Family
Members of parliament have been speaking up about an Albanian family that was deported yesterday, and strong opinions have held forth. Meanwhile, the Interior Minister has absolved herself of any responsibility over the matter. Vísir reports that Social Democrat MP Ólína Þorvarðardóttir…
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Albanian Family Deported In The Middle Of The Night
An Albanian family, which includes an infant boy with a heart condition, were deported from Iceland late last night. The deportation, which took place on International Human Rights Day, has sparked harsh criticism from the public and politicians alike, and a petition…
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Social Worker Was Behind Leak About Vietnamese Couple
A social worker at Landspítali was behind the leak to the Directorate of Immigration which made misleading claims about a Vietnamese couple. A source speaking to Vísir has disclosed it was a social worker at the National University Hospital (Landspítali) who contacted…
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Domestic Violence Survivor Given 30 Days To Leave Iceland
A survivor of domestic violence who divorced her abuser has been given 30 days to leave the country, or face deportation and a return ban of 2 years. A protest has been planned demanding she be allowed to stay in Iceland. Amanda…
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Syrian Family Barred Entry To Celebrate Wedding
A Syrian man and an Icelandic woman have waited nearly two years to hear whether or not his family could attend the couple’s wedding, and have been denied. MBL reports that the couple in question, Guðný Harpa Hallgrímsdóttir and Mohamad Khattab, had…
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Court Confirms Deportation Of Tony Omos
On Friday, the Reykjavík District Court acquitted the Directorate of Immigration (UTL) from charges pressed on behalf of Tony Omos, whose application for asylum in Iceland will thereby not be taken to consideration. A demonstration has been announced on Saturday, to protest…