Justice Minister urged to reject dismissal of Deputy District Prosecutor Helgi Magnús Gunnarsson in Iceland

A letter has been sent to the Minister of Justice demanding that Helgi Magnús Gunnarsson not be dismissed from his position as Deputy District Prosecutor. This follows accusations against him regarding inappropriate comments about asylum seekers and refugees from the Middle East. Helgi’s lawyer argues that the comments made during interviews and on social media do not reflect any misconduct related to his official duties.

The controversy arose after Mohamad Kourani, who had harassed Helgi and his family for years, was sentenced to eight years in prison for aggravated assault and violations against authorities. In his statements, Helgi expressed concerns about large-scale immigration involving cultural differences and suggested that authority is sometimes only respected through force.

As a result of his remarks, Solaris, an organization supporting asylum seekers in Iceland, filed a formal complaint against him, alleging that his comments amounted to slander and discrimination based on nationality or ethnicity. This complaint prompted the state prosecutor to recommend Helgi’s temporary dismissal, a matter currently under consideration by the Minister.

Helgi’s legal team asserts that his comments should be regarded as part of his personal expression, emphasizing his right to freedom of speech, regardless of his position. The letter also pointed out that the authority to issue reprimands rests solely with the Minister of Justice, not the state prosecutor.

It concludes by warning that dismissing Helgi could delay legal proceedings and infringe upon the rights of defendants to a fair trial, as stipulated by the Constitution and European human rights standards. The letter urges the minister to expedite the resolution of this matter and reject the prosecutor’s request for Helgi’s dismissal.