Renounces international protection and will be deported
Kourani will serve half of his sentence before being deported to Syria. mbl.is/Árni Sæberg
Mohamad Th. Jóhannesson, formerly known as Mohamad Kourani, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in July last year, has renounced his international protection status.
As a result, he will be deported once he has served half of his sentence.
Unless circumstances change, he will remain in prison until 2028 and will then be deported to Syria. He has been in custody since March 2024.
Long re-entry ban
According to Vísir, he will also face a 30-year ban on returning to Iceland.
His lawyer, Stefán Karl Kristjánsson, confirmed that Mohamad had given up his protection status and accepted a long-term re-entry ban. He noted that conditions in Syria have changed significantly since Mohamad was first granted protection in 2018.
Convictions for serious crimes
Kourani has a lengthy criminal record. His most serious conviction was for a stabbing attack on two men, including the owner of OK Market. He received an eight-year prison sentence for attempted manslaughter and serious assault.
He was also sentenced to 14 months in prison for various other offenses and was reported to have harassed and threatened former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Helgi Magnús Gunnarsson.
Legislative changes on the horizon
Kourani’s case has prompted politicians to consider changes to current laws.
Former Minister of Justice, Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, called for amendments that would allow for the revocation of international protection if individuals commit serious crimes.
The current Minister of Justice, Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, has announced a forthcoming bill to that effect.
