An 11-year-old Palestinian boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy was returned to Landspitali Hospital in Reykjavik this morning after spending eight hours at Keflavik Airport, where he and his family were awaiting deportation to Spain, reported The Middle East Monitor.

Police officers had taken Yazan Tamimi from the hospital’s Rjodrid nursing and rehabilitation department late last night, where he was receiving care for his neurodegenerative condition. Yazan, who requires constant medical supervision, was asleep when the police arrived.

The family’s lawyer, Albert Bjorn Ludvigsson, expressed his outrage over the situation, stating that the deportation plan had been carried out without proper notification or due process. He explained that the hospital staff had informed the rights defender for disabled individuals after police removed Yazan, but no formal notice had been given to him as the family’s legal representative.

Moreover, the police refused to provide him with detailed information about the deportation proceedings, including the destination or even confirmation that the family was being removed from the country. Ludvigsson noted further that he had been denied full access to his client and that the family had not had the chance to speak to him with the help of an interpreter.

Yazan’s deportation has been contested on multiple occasions, given his severe medical condition and the risk of inadequate care if forced to leave Iceland.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the most severe types of inherited muscular disorders. This condition causes progressive muscle deterioration and weakness, and Yazan is already reliant on a wheelchair. The average life expectancy for individuals with Duchenne is around 25 to 26 years, although with advanced medical care, some can live into their thirties.

Despite these challenges, the Icelandic authorities went ahead with its efforts to remove the family, sparking a public outcry. Ludvigsson confirmed that the deportation has not yet been called off, even though Yazan has been returned temporarily to the hospital.

The group No Borders Iceland organised a protest quickly at Keflavik Airport, where around 20 people gathered by 3 a.m. to oppose the deportation. Protesters acknowledged that while their actions might not stop Yazan’s deportation, they demand that the family be granted a hearing before being forced to leave. They argue that deporting the family without a fair hearing violates fundamental human rights, and called on the Icelandic authorities to halt the deportation until the case can be fully reviewed.