Asylum seekers who have been protesting in Reykjavík in recent weeks have been invited to meet with representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office, Vísir reports. The meeting, scheduled today at 3.00pm, will be hosted by the Icelandic Red Cross.
Elínborg Harpa Öndunardóttir, an activist and member of No Borders Iceland, told Vísir that a diverse group of asylum seekers would discuss their demands at the event. She added that emphasis will be placed on ensuring some 50 asylum seekers who have been part of the ongoing protest receive substantial review of their cases.
The protesting group has published a list of five demands, including substantial review of all asylum applications, equal access to healthcare, and the closing down of Ásbrú refugee camp in Keflavík.
Police arrested two protesters and used pepper spray on others yesterday evening in Austurvöllur square. In a statement on their Facebook page, Reykjavík Police have stated the pepper spray was seen as the mildest response to deescalate a conflict that had arisen. Asylum seekers assert their protest has been peaceful and had called for no such measures. The protest is ongoing.
