Immigrants, expats and Finns marched on October 19, 1982 to demand their rights. The march started from Helsinki University’s Porthania building to Parliament. One of the comments that caught my attention on that chilly Tuesday, was that Helsingin Sanomat made a big exception about writing about the march since it did not publish as a rule stories…
Month: October 2013
Is it ok to be a closet fascist, Nazi and racist in the PS after the Hirvisaari scandal?
In an A-studio talk show Monday, Perussuomalaiset (PS) third vice-president, Juho Eerola, was asked what was the underlying message of MP James Hirvisaari’s expulsion to members of the party. The PS MP said that “playing with issues like National Socialism and misanthropy” are unacceptable in the PS. The person making such a claim, Eerola, wrote…
Why does the Finnish media give so much attention to anti-immigration politicians and parties?
I was invited on Tuesday to speak at a seminar on immigration* for YLE journalists. One of the questions I asked was why do Finnish journalists give so much space and attention to far-right anti-immigration politicians? Why do some give racists inflated respectability and importance? A recent story about Finland accepting 500 refugees from war-torn Syria…
Two important stories this week that may have far-reaching implications for Finland
This week was marked by two important news stories that will could have far-reaching consequences on our country: Perussuomalaiset (PS) MP James Hirvisaari’s expulsion from the anti-immigration and anti-EU party, and positive words about immigration by Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen. Verkkouutiset is published by the National Coalition Party. See full story here. While the first…
Nazi salutes and the growth of far-right ideology in Finland
In two weeks, two Perussuomalaiset (PS) politicians got their fingers burned badly after one made a Nazi salute with a Hitler mask while another took a picture of another one who made the same salute in parliament. One of the reasons why some Finns can do this in public is because they have a blind…
Analysis: Is sacking MP Hirvisaari the beginning of the end for the PS?
One of the interesting questions that the sacking of MP James Hirvisaari raises is if it is the first visible crack that will force the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party to implode, eventually. Is Timo Soini’s PS a ticking time bomb and Hirvisaari a time counter indicating that we’ve got ten seconds to seek cover before the bomb…
The Perussuomalaiset plan to sack MP Hirvisaari from the party
Inviting Seppo Lehto to parliament, where a picture of him making a Nazi salute, was the last straw for Perussuomalaiset(PS) chairman Timo Soini, who was quoted as saying on MTV3 that PS MP James Hirvisaari will be sacked from the party. Read full story here. The decision to expel Hirvisaari was made by the five-member…
A guest of the Finnish PS gives a Nazi salute in parliament
We all know how a political party like the Perussuomalaiset (PS) has declared war against immigrants and other minorities in this country. The latest attack by the PS was against the Finnish parliament by a guest of MP James Hirvisaari, who was pictured giving a Nazi salute. UPDATE: Hirvisaari confirmed Thursday that it was him…
Maryan Abdulkarim: Ihminen ilman historiaa on kuin puu ilman juuria
Maryan Abdulkarim* Yhteiskunnan julkista kuvaa tarkasteltaessa ei heti havaitse, että Suomessa elää ja on pitkään elänyt useampia erilaisia etnisiä ryhmiä. Ennen kuin oli ketään muuta, Suomenmaata asuttivat saamelaiset. Sitten tänne alkoi saapua maahanmuuttajia, valkoihoisia ihmisiä, jotka puhuivat outoa kieltä. Saamelaiset ovat tänä päivänä etninen vähemmistö, joiden äidinkielet ovat uhanalaisia. Mitkä seikat ovat vaikuttaneet siihen? (Kuva:…