Icelandic Chief Prosecutor recommends temporary relief for Deputy Chief Prosecutor Helgi Magnús Gunnarsson amid controversy

The Icelandic Chief Prosecutor has recommended that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Helgi Magnús Gunnarsson be temporarily relieved of his duties. This proposal is in connection with a complaint filed by the humanitarian organization Solaris against him due to comments he made regarding immigrants from the Middle East.

Solaris lodged a police complaint on July 24, about remarks Helgi made on July 16 and 19 about Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees, as well as comments regarding the organization itself, its volunteers, and its clients. Solaris claims that Helgi’s conduct and statements have undermined public trust in the office of the Chief Prosecutor. Moreover, he and his family have faced repeated threats over the years from Mohammad Thors Jóhannesson, previously known as Kourani, who was recently sentenced to eight years in prison on charges including attempted murder.

Helgi received an email from the Chief Prosecutor just before noon on the day of the announcement, indicating that she had requested the Justice Minister to temporarily relieve him of his position due to the ongoing situation. He noted that he did not see this email until an hour later, which he believes is a breach of confidentiality as some staff were informed of the matter before he was. Helgi has served as Deputy Chief Prosecutor since the fall of 2011, nearly as long as Sigríður has held the role of Chief Prosecutor.

The situation remains fluid as further developments unfold regarding both the complaint and the internal response.