Helgi Magnús Gunnarsson continues in position as Deputy Prosecutor General in Iceland

The Deputy Prosecutor General, Helgi Magnús Gunnarsson, is content with the Minister of Justice’s decision to keep him in his position. He expects to return to work soon. The Prosecutor General, Sigríður Friðjónsdóttir, had previously recommended to the minister in late July that Helgi should be temporarily relieved from his duties due to comments he made publicly about asylum seekers and refugees, which she deemed “inappropriate and incompatible with his duties.”

The Minister of Justice criticized Helgi’s remarks regarding immigrants and refugees as inappropriate and inconsistent with his role as a public official, noting that they undermined the credibility of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the prosecution authority as a whole. The minister stated that Helgi Magnús’s behavior was a repeated offense, akin to previous warnings he received two years ago.

However, the minister acknowledged that Helgi’s comments were made under exceptional circumstances, particularly in the context of threats he received from an individual who had been convicted for threatening him and his family. As such, the minister has opted not to relieve Helgi of his duties in light of this context.

Helgi expressed satisfaction with the decision and reaffirmed his commitment to work alongside the Prosecutor General. He emphasized that trust exists between him and the Prosecutor General, and he is eager to return to work, confident that efforts will be made to resolve any lingering issues. Helgi noted that the actions taken against him might not have enhanced trust in the office, suggesting further reflection is necessary to ensure cooperation moving forward.