In a surprising turn of events, Iceland's Minister for Children and Education, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, has resigned following revelations about a past relationship with a teenager when she was 22 years old. Reports indicate that she admitted to having a child with a 15-year-old boy more than 35 years ago, bringing significant attention to the circumstances surrounding their relationship.

According to Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV, Thórsdóttir began her relationship with the boy while working as a counselor for a religious group. She gave birth to their son when she was 23, while he was just 16. The legal landscape in Iceland permits consensual sexual relationships at the age of 15, but stipulates that it is illegal for adults to engage in such relations with individuals under the age of 18 if they are in a position of trust, such as teaching.

In a statement to RUV, the young father expressed that he never viewed himself as a victim, although he acknowledged that he was navigating a challenging phase in his life at the time and sought comfort and support from the church group. Initially, he was present during the birth of their son and maintained some contact in the early stages of the child’s life. However, by the time the boy turned one, access to his son had been significantly restricted, despite the father's obligation to provide child support for 18 years.

Confidential reports indicate that efforts by the young father to seek assistance from both the Ministry of Justice and the church's family services in obtaining visitation rights were met with refusal from Thórsdóttir.

The controversy gained traction after RUV's reporting on Thursday, leading to Thórsdóttir's resignation from her ministerial role. Nevertheless, she intends to retain her position as a member of parliament representing the People’s Party.

Iceland’s Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, acknowledged that Thórsdóttir met with the leaders of the ruling parties to discuss the situation. "We discussed the options together and heard her account of the matter in detail for the first time at that meeting," Frostadóttir said during a news conference. She praised Thórsdóttir for taking immediate responsibility through her resignation, adding that they would continue investigating the matter since it was brought to their attention just a week ago.

“This is indeed an unfortunate matter, but it should be emphasized that it has nothing to do with our work,” the Prime Minister stated. As the fallout continues, CNN has reached out for comment from Thórsdóttir and the Ministry for Education and Children.