Month: February 2016

Iraqi asylum seeker: The first Finnish word I learned was “vittu”

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It’s a Sunday and we’re at a fast-food Middle Eastern restaurant in the heart of Helsinki. I have an appointment with a twenty-six-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker who came to Finland in September via Tornio and who is staying at one of Luona’s asylum reception centers. Like many who have the misfortune of staying at a reception center run by Luona, he too isn’t happy about the poor and humiliating treatment he’s getting.

Apart from traumas left by the violence in his country and the long journey to Finland, which hinges on a residence permit, the treatment he gets at Luona’s reception center only exacerbates his ordeal.

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“I made a big mistake coming to Finland and I’m disappointed and feel mentally sick by the situation,” said the Iraqi asylum seeker. Photo by Enrique Tessieri.

Mostafa* speaks:

“We are treated in a racist manner and like animals by Luona. In the first reception center I stayed at (managed by Luona) we were 10-12 asylum seekers in each room. We slept on the floor. People were forced to wear dirty clothes because there was only one washing machine for the whole center. The food that is served is horrible. It isn’t eatable and we don’t trust it. Even if the employees ensure us there’s no pork we can’t trust what they say. [Luona has accidentally served pork twice to asylum seekers].

Continue reading “Iraqi asylum seeker: The first Finnish word I learned was “vittu””

Why are so many Iraqi asylum seekers abandoning Finland?

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According to some sources, a large number of asylum seekers amounting to about 4,000 had abandoned plans to seek asylum in Finland. Considering that two-thirds of the Iraqis that came to Finland last year are young single men, it’s nothing odd that some are returning. 

In my own research of the Finns that colonized Argentina in 1906, 75% of those first settlers were single men. When the going got exceptionally tough the first to abandon the colony were single men. Those who stayed on were families.

Certainly the circumstances of leaving Finland in 1906 and Iraq in 2015 are vastly different. Iraq is a country that was invaded by the United States and its allies in 2003 and has ever since been absorbed in a vicious spiral of violence that has cost hundreds of thousands of deaths, according to some estimates.

Another factor that is forcing some Iraqis to return to their home country is the poor treatment and hostility they are getting. One asylum seeker said: “I’d rather die in my home country with dignity than suffer humiliation and a slow death in Finland.”

Some sources believe that those that are returning back to Iraq are making life difficult for those who are seeking asylum.

“There are cases were part of a family has returned back to Iraq while the other family members decided to stay in Finland,” a source said. “This erodes the cases of those that stay since Migri can claim to them that if some are returning it means that there’s no danger.”

Presently there is a refugee camp near the airport run by Luona where people are being flown back or deported weekly to countries like Iraq. If asylum seekers haven’t got a taste of how poorly Luona treats refugees, they will get a taste of it here.

Those asylum seekers that arrived in August are now getting their residence permit decisions from the Finnish Immigration Service, according to a source contacted by Migrant Tales.

 

How the Finnish Immigration Service’s fast-track scheme will deport thousands of asylum seekers from Finland in 2016

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What would a country like Finland, which prefers to be an island in Europe and where too many still see cultural diversity with suspicion, do if a record number of asylum seekers from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia came here in 2015?

Add to that question a government that has a party that is openly hostile to cultural diversity and asylum seekers and two right-wing mainstream parties that need the latter’s support to downsize the welfare state, and a clear picture emerges.BashyQ-5

Asylum seekers are not only victims of the violence in their home countries but the hostility and poor treatment they have face in Finland. Photo by Enrique Tessieri.

In other words, this is what probably happened in the fall behind government closed doors. The anti-immigration Perussuomalaiset (PS)* turned to their partners in government, the Center Party and National Coalition Party (NCP), and asked them for help after their popularity plummeted in the polls.

“Our standings in the polls have gone into a tailspin ever since we joined the government,” a PS minister like Timo Soini would probably say with Juha Sipilä or Alexander Stubb interjecting: “Let’s make a deal. We’ll help you regain your popularity in the polls by supporting your plans to tighten immigration policy and you support our plans to downsize the welfare state.”

It’s a simple and clear-cut deal between the ruling partners.  You scratch my back and we’ll scratch yours.

The Center Party and NCP allow the PS to have a free hand at promoting its xenophobic policies in government and in return the PS supports the Center Party’s and NCP’s plans to downsize the welfare state.

Continue reading “How the Finnish Immigration Service’s fast-track scheme will deport thousands of asylum seekers from Finland in 2016”

The face of fascism in Finland: Before and after

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There is a fascinating book published by Olli Silvennoinen, Marko Tikka and Aapo Romelius titled Suomalaiset fasistit (Finnish fascists).  One of the authors, Silvennoinen, states in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat that the same arguments used in the 1920s to feed fascism are used today. 

The argument is a simple one: Before, in the 1920s, the threat was communism. Today that threat is migration and Islam, according to Silvennoinen.

If there is a party that has given a political forum to fascism in Finland that party is without any doubt the Perussuomalasiet (PS)* with politicians like MEP Jussi Halla-aho, Defense Minister Jussi Niinistö, MPs Olli Immonen, Juho Eerola, Laura Huhtasaari and others.

Just like fascism in the 1920s and 1930s was a violent and hostile force, the PS’ anti-immigration and Islamophobic rhetoric have the ability to match the violence and hostility we saw in the 1920s by fascist groups like the Lapua Movement.

Before…

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Source: Helsingin Sanomat.

Continue reading “The face of fascism in Finland: Before and after”

Scaremongering by the PS of Finland is always at full swing

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Finland’s Perussuomalaiset (PS)* defense minister, Jussi Niinistö, believes that up to one million “illegal” immigrants could come to Finland from Russia, according to YLE News. Niinistö, a historian who has played down the role of fascist associations like the Lapua Movement (1929-32), fearmongers to shore up support for his ailing party. 

Moreover, it’s interesting to note that Niinistö calls asylum seekers “illegal” immigrants. He doesn’t call them asylum seekers never mind undocumented migrants but “illegal” immigrants.

The use of such labels is nothing strange coming from Niinistö, who said recently that that integrating all Muslims into Finnish society is a difficult challenge.

“In practice the potential is limitless,” he was quoted as saying in YLE News. “From hundreds of thousands to a million people, who are ready to move out of Russia. In that sense the situation is worrying. Not just for Finland but for other European countries.”

Na?ytto?kuva 2016-2-11 kello 20.27.45

 

Read full story here.

Can we believe Niinistö scaremongering in light of his far-right credentials and populist party’s nosedive in the polls?

Continue reading “Scaremongering by the PS of Finland is always at full swing”

Finland’s xenophobic Denmark slippery slope

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Considering that the anti-immigration Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party is in government and that the two other ruling partners, the Center Party and National Coalition Party (NCP), need the support of the PS to downsize the welfare state, it’s clear why Finland is tightening its immigration policy. 

What is happening in Finland has been happening in Denmark for a number of years and serves as a clear warning to Sweden. This is what your country will become if ever the Sweden Democrats got into government.

Apart from officially scapegoating migrants and polarizing society, Islamophobia and fear-mongering would be king.

The saddest aspect of the latter is that most of the politicians, the media and society would care less since they incorrectly believe that tighter rules that will foster social Darwinism won’t apply to them.

Considering that the Finnish government is doing everything possible to discourage asylum seekers from coming to Finland, it’s clear that they are doing everything possible on this front publicly and behind the scenes.

One of these disgraceful examples, like in Denmark, is checking the asylum seekers’ assets and then determine now much reception allowance the person will get.

Continue reading “Finland’s xenophobic Denmark slippery slope”

Facebook: Viimeinen virallinen viikko

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Näitä tapahtuu liian usein Suomessa.

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Na?ytto?kuva 2016-2-10 kello 7.14.58

Mä oon tehny keikkaa kaupan kassalla ties kuin monessa paikassa mut tänää oli viimeinen virallinen viikko ja PASKIN päivä ikinä ! Asiakas tulee kassalle ja sanoo et ” en enää ikinä astu tähän kauppaa ” aattelin et ruuhkan takii. Sit se pakkaa ostoksiinsa ja sano toiselle asiakkaalle et ” mä en tänne astu enää ku täällä on jotain neekereitä vastassa ” sit se toinen asiakas oli et ” et sä noin voi sanoo” ja tää nainen alko ihan täysii huutaa täydessä kaupassa ” KYLLÄ MÄ VOIN SANOA SUOMALAISENA IHAN MITÄ MÄ HALUAN , HÄN ON NEEKERI ENKÄ TUU ENÄÄ TÄNNE”

Mua ei oo ikinä nöyryytetty näin pahasti viellä niin monen ihmisen edessä , siinä yritin pitää itteeni kasassa ja 15 minuutin päästä vasta pääsin tauolle ja tääl mä itken silmät päästä! Kiitos sulle arvon suomalainen joka koit että on sun paikkas oli tulla mun kassalle kolmen muun kassan sijaan ja tulla haukkumaan minut maan tasolle ja jatkat elämääsi ilmaan minkäänlaista katumusta kun mä joudun jatkaa töitä viellä pari tuntia pidettäessä itkua ! Hyvää lauantaita teille.

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Facebook: Viha, ennakkoluulot ja tietämättömyys

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Rasistinen hyökkäys yhdelle ryhmälle kuten turvapaikkajakijalle on hyökkäys kaikki maahanmuuttajia ja vähemmistöjä Suomessa.

Adam Al-Sawad kirjoittaa: “Nämä ihmiset vastustavat aktiivisesti ja konkreettisesti minun ja kaltaisteni olemassaoloa Suomessa.”

Lukekaa.

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Na?ytto?kuva 2016-2-10 kello 7.17.57

Kuunnellessani James Hirvisaaren puhetta ja muuta Seinäjoen Rajat Kiinni!!! tapahtuman ohjelmistoa murenee maa kotini ja turvani alta hetki hetkeltä.

Viha, ennakkoluulot ja tietämättömyys on salonkikelpoistettu nimittämällä niitä kritisoimiseksi ja kriittisyydeksi, realismiksi ja tasapainoisuudeksi. Ja kun hatusta on vedetty nimikkeet, riippumatta nimetyn todellisesta sisällöstä, voi vastustamisen sivuuttaa sillä, että vasemmisto ei vain hyväksy muita mielipiteitä, ja että kaikki muut eivät kunnioita faktoja. Muutaman yksittäisen faktan ympärille on rakentunut verkko mielikuvitusmaailmoja, jotka keskittyvät nationalistisiin arvohierarkioihoin ja me vastaan ne -asenteeseen.

Nämä ihmiset vastustavat aktiivisesti ja konkreettisesti minun ja kaltaisteni olemassaoloa Suomessa. Meidät on vankasti ja jyrkästi nimitetty ihmissaastaksi, mutavyöryksi, valloittaviksi muhamettilaisiksi jotka pitää poistaa. Tuhannet ihmiset hokevat julkisesti mantrojaan siitä, miten ihan tarpeeksi ählämeitä, islamilaisia ja neekereitä täällä jo on. Sotilaiksi itseään nimittävät kulkevat julkisesti käsi kädessä liikkeen arvojen kanssa, samalla väittäen välittävänsä vain turvallisuudesta. Sotilaat, jotka saarnaavat minun poistamista rakkaasta kotimaastani, eivät tuo minulle turvaa. Suomalainen kristinusko sekä aasalaisten Odin tuhrataan epäkunnioittavasti, ja ulkomaalaistaustaisten ihmisarvo pyritään tallomaan maan rakoon.

Minua ei uhkaa käsitteellinen multikulturalismi, jonka ongelmista täytyy vetää rippeitä sieltä sun täältä. Minua uhkaa se, että kaduilla kulkee tuhansia ihmisiä, joille olen ihmiskunnan syöpää, saastaa joka täytyy poistaa, kulttilainen joka täytyy nujertaa. Tältä juutalaisista on tuntunut aikoinaan. Ja tämän sanon vakavissani ja konkreettisesti, en siksi että se olisi vain hyvä vertaus.

Toivon, että juutalaisten myöhempiä tunteita ei joudu kukaan kokemaan enää koskaan.

?#?JeSuisMutavyöry?

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When racism in Finland becomes “normal”

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Migrant Tales insight: As the politicians and media in Finland turn their backs on the ever-increasing racism in this country, there are a few brave people who don’t remain silent. A brave young woman in Lahti preferred not to remain silent at a bar as two black men were being harassed at a bar in a racist manner Saturday. 

If we reflect on what happened, one question rises above the rest: What kind of a country are we living in if a total stranger can insult and harass two black men in public in a racist manner? Is it a country that is living deep in denial and where racism has become so widespread that people can react in such a manner because it is the most normal thing?

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“I went to a bar in Lahti on Saturday and just as I was leaving a Finnish who was accompined by two others started insulting two black men. He told them to leave Finland because noboy had asked them to come here.

The argument got more tempered and that’s when I decided to act and went in between them. I asked the Finnish man why he was yelling at the black men.

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Lahti advertises on its web site that it is “an ideal place for businesses.”

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The Finnish man then told me ‘go fuck myself!’

He then continued: ‘Have you lived in some cave?! Don’t you read the news?! Don’t you know that these people come here to rape our women and children?!’

The Finnish man said he had a two-month-old baby and said he was worried she might be raped by the men.  He also blamed them for paying more taxes so they could get social welfare.

‘I hope that your future child gets raped by them,’ he told me.

Then my friends came to my side and a fight erupted between them and the three Finnish men. Out of nowhere a total stranger came and punched one of my firends in the jaw.

The police came but the person that punched my friend got away.

I cried a lot that night. I couldn’t believe that people were so cruel.”

The anti-immigration narrative of politicians, the police and President Sauli Niinistö is no mistake

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From the fall we have heard the police service, politicians, government ministers, the media and recently the head of state of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, give statements that bolster racist and far-right ideology  that label and victimize asylum seekers, migrants, and minorities in this country. 

Every time these so-called poorly planned statements are made the first ones who feel the brunt of their hostilities are people who may look like asylum seekers. In this group, there are children as well who get a taste of our xenophobia.

President Niinistö is the best recent example of how politicians give space to far right ideology and racism in Finland. Such public figures do so to further their political careers. Hint: Niinistö is courting the anti-immigration vote for the 2018 presidential elections.

Those who have followed Niinistö know that he’s no friend of our ever-growing culturally diverse society never mind asylum seekers.

What he said Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the new parliamentary session shouldn’t surprise us too much. The pattern is clear: feed the public with the usual dose of anti-immigration rhetoric and then retract and act surprised by stating that “it wasn’t what I meant.”

What did Niinistö state?

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Na?ytto?kuva 2016-2-6 kello 8.02.08

Read full story here.

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Apart from pronouncing the term “asylum” incorrectly, he stated:

“At some point, someone has to recognize that, here and now, we cannot fulfill all of our obligations under international agreements,” according to the Helsinki Times.

Continue reading “The anti-immigration narrative of politicians, the police and President Sauli Niinistö is no mistake”