Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir said questions in parliament earlier today regarding a leaked memo about asylum seekers in Iceland were part of an “ugly political game.”
MP for the Left Greens Bjarkey Gunnarsdóttir and MP for the Pirate Party Birgitta Jónsdóttir asked Hanna Birna about the case during unplanned question time in parliament this afternoon, visir.is reports. Bjarkey said that it was too late for Hanna Birna to step down temporarily and that she should consider resigning. She added that it was deplorable that Hanna Birna believes that the case has become a political issue focused on her.
The case involves the leak of what later turned out to be false and damaging allegations against two asylum seekers to the media.
Lawyers of the asylum seekers filed charges with the police against the ministry. The case is currently being investigated by the police.
Reykjavík District Court recently concluded that the sole purpose for leaking the memo was “to impugn the reputation” of the asylum seekers in the face of growing public protest over their treatment, ruv.is reports.
