Yazan case raises concerns over police conduct at family’s home in Keflavik

Yazan Tamimi’s case has raised significant concerns regarding police conduct during an operation executed at his family’s home. After being transferred from the hospital to Keflavik Airport, Yazan’s lawyer, Albert Björn Lúðvígsson, criticized the police for using considerable force during the operation, stating that his client’s family was treated with undue aggression. He described the front door as damaged and the apartment showing multiple signs of struggle.

Yazan was in the Rjóðrín care and rehabilitation department for chronically ill and disabled children when the police intervened. He was reportedly isolated in a confined room for about seven hours before being escorted to the airport. Following intervention from Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, the Minister of Social Affairs, Yazan and his family were allowed to return home, despite the original decision for deportation remaining in place.

Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, the Minister of Justice, confirmed that the operation was postponed at the request of the Social Affairs Minister. She affirmed her trust in the authorities involved, even as the situation drew considerable scrutiny.

The Landspítali hospital issued a statement affirming its commitment to patient care, emphasizing that the police’s authority to operate within healthcare facilities must be thoroughly clarified to avoid disruptions that could negatively affect vulnerable patients. The incident underscores ongoing debates about the rights of individuals within the healthcare system and the role of law enforcement in immigration matters.