Government crisis erupts over expulsion of Yazan Tamimi in Iceland

The recent handling of the expulsion of Yazan Tamimi and his family has raised significant concerns within Iceland’s government. Minister of Justice Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir criticized the actions of the Minister of Social Affairs, Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, who contacted both the Prime Minister and the National Commissioner of Police regarding the expulsion but did not reach out to the Minister of Justice.

Hafsteinsdóttir emphasized that the process followed in this case does not align with normal administrative practices. She stated that it is highly unusual for one minister to directly contact the subordinate of another minister, highlighting a lack of collaboration and protocol in governmental operations. She asserted, “I find it unreasonable for ministers to intercede in matters of their colleagues.”

The Social Affairs Minister, Gudmundur Ingi, reportedly informed the Prime Minister of the situation late at night prior to the planned expulsion, advocating for its suspension and discussion within the cabinet. He later reached out to the National Commissioner of Police but denied instructing police actions, saying he merely expressed his viewpoint.

The Minister of Justice clarified that while the decision to pause the expulsion came at the Prime Minister’s request, she still held the authority to make that final call. Hafsteinsdóttir received communication from the National Commissioner early in the morning about this decision, confirming that it would be postponed to allow for internal discussions.

Both ministers agree that the nature of the contact and decision-making process surrounding the expulsion was highly irregular and called into question the bureaucratic norms governing such sensitive issues.