More than 400 Icelanders have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir asking her to increase government efforts to find Haukur Hilmarsson, RÚV reports. Haukur disappeared during an air raid in Syria on February 24th and is believed to be dead or captured. He travelled to Syria to participate in Kurdish resistance against the terrorist organization of the Islamic State in Raqqa.
The letter states that as Haukur’s death has not been confirmed, it is not unthinkable that he could be detained by Turkish forces or their allies. If he is indeed in custody, the undersigned request the government to make all efforts to return him to Iceland.
The letter goes on to state that Haukur’s family has only recently received very limited information from the government on Haukur’s case. “From the data to be judged, as well as the ministry’s relations with family members, it appears the ministry’s investigation has been carried out with the least effort and with the intention of not interfering with Turkish authorities—the same which are deemed to have hurt, captured, or even murdered Haukur,” the letter reads.
Members of Haukur’s family intend to go to Afrin to search for him. The letter requests the government provide them with all relevant information on the case as well as apply for permission from the Turkish government, who holds authority in the area, for the family members to travel without interference in order to look for him.
Among those who signed the letter are authors Andri Snær Magnason, comedian Hugleikur Dagsson, and musician Megas.
