Sema Erla Serdaroglu pleads not guilty to fundraising law violations

Sema Erla Serdaroglu, founder and chair of the aid organization Solaris, pleaded not guilty at the Reykjavík District Court regarding charges of violating public fundraising laws. The charges stem from a 2024 nationwide fundraising campaign titled ‘Sækjum fólkið okkar á Gaza’, which aimed to assist Palestinians in escaping Gaza to Iceland.

The campaign reportedly raised over 93 million ISK, exceeding its initial 50 million ISK goal. According to Solaris, approximately 91 million ISK was allocated to the project, which helped roughly 200 individuals, primarily women and children, relocate. The organization maintains that the funds were managed and audited by a certified accountant.

Serdaroglu has criticized the legal proceedings, alleging that the investigation expanded from fundraising violations into allegations of money laundering and terrorism financing after a complaint was filed by attorney Einar S. Hálfdánarson. She rejected a police offer to settle the case through a fine and a criminal record. The main hearing for the case is scheduled for late October.