Author: Migrant Tales

Tiedote Pohjois – Suomen Islamilainen Yhdyskunta: Suomi tarvitse johtajutta

Posted on by Migrant Tales

??? ???? ?????? ??????

POHJOIS – SUOMEN ISLAMILAINEN YHDYSKUNTA

ISLAMIC SOCEITY OF NORTHERN FINLAND

??????? ????????? ????? ??????

 

         Pohjois-Suomen Islamilaisen yhdyskunnan puolesta haluamme antaa lausuntomme liittyen Uuden-Seelannissa tapahtuneeseen verilöylyyn ja julmuuteen.

Julmuudet Uudessa-Seelannissa ei vain istuttanut pelkoa muslimiyhteisöön suomessa, vaan myös varoitti meitä, että tällaista tulee tapahtumaan uudestaan niin kauan kunnes media ja poliitikot ottavat voimakkaan kannan vastustaa kaikenlaista vihaa ja islamofobiaa. Me tarvitsemme sellaista johtajuutta Suomessa tänä päivänä.

Oulun Moskeijaan on hyökätty yhdeksän kertaa sitten vuoden 2017, näistä viimeisin tapahtui kahdeskymmeneskuudes helmikuuta. Epäilty näkyy videovalvonnasta kuinka hän hajottaa ikkunoita pyörätelineellä ja heittää savukranaatin meidän tiloihin aamulla kymmenen yli viisi.

Suomi on maa, jossa on taattu uskonnonvapaus. Toinen oikeus, joka on jokaisella riippumatta hänen taustastaan, on elää rauhassa.

Yhdeksästä hyökkäyksestä huolimatta, poliisi ei ole ottanut kiinni valitettavasti ainuttakaan epäiltyä.

Olemme pahoillamme, että median ja poliitikkojen reaktio vihapuheeseen ja esimerkiksi tiettyjen ryhmien kuten muslimien uhriksi joutumiseen on yleensä ollut huomiotta jättämistä. Lähes päivittäin muslimit joutuvat median hyökkäyksen kohteeksi ja ovat myös epäilevän valvonnan alla. Meidät asetetaan kielteiseen julkiseen valoon niiden ihmisten toimesta, joiden pitäisi tietää paremmin ja joilla on vaikutus yleiseen mielipiteeseen.

Ensimmäinen perustuslaki sanoo: Valtio turvaa ihmisarvonloukkaamattomuuden ja yksilön vapauden ja oikeudet sekä edistää oikeudenmukaisuutta yhteiskunnassa.

Kymmenes perustuslaki sanoo: Jokaisen yksityiselämä, kunnia ja kotirauha on turvattu.

Näiden perustuslakien perusteella kaikilla on oikeus olla turvassa. Joten lain mukaan meidän turvallisuus on erittäin tärkeää. Lisäksi kaikilla pitäisi olla oikeus harjoittaa uskontoaan rauhassa. Uskonnon häirintää ei pitäisi missään muotoa sallia.

Tilanne on hyvin vakava ja me tarvitsemme johtajuutta tarttumaan tähän ongelmaan, joka ilman puuttumista johtaa muihin hyökkäyksiin ja julmuuksiin.

Me olemme varmoja, että Suomella on työkalut tarttua tähän haasteeseen.

Oulu 18.3.2019

Dr. Abdul Mannan

Puheenjohtaja ja

Pohjois-Suomen Islamilaisen yhdyskunnan johtokunta     

Osoite: Linnankatu 23-25, 90100 Oulu                                                               Puh: 0500582371

The Perussuomalaiset of Finland try to play down New Zealand atrocities but fail

Posted on by Migrant Tales

In Finland, the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* is an extremist far-right party that fear-mongers about Muslims and migrants. For many PS politicians, the Oulu sexual abuse cases came as an election lifesaver until Friday, when an Australian white supremacist murdered in cold blood 49 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

The future for the PS looks bleak. Different stories about the party speculate that some 200,000 voters are going to ditch the PS in the April 14 parliamentary elections.

From the reactions of some PS members to the atrocities in New Zealand, show a sense of dread.

What do extremists do when a murderous killing happens by people who are ideologically in the same ballpark? They find excuses to justify what happened, play it down or change the story completely.

Here is a PS Youth leader of Lapland who condones what happened.

 

What did Johannes Sipola say in the tweet?

“The New Zealand case show ever-convincingly that multicultural society does not work. When other people [of other backgrounds] rape and kill enough [people], it is only a question of time when there will be a reaction from the opposite side. First and foremost, everyone defends their own.”

Continue reading “The Perussuomalaiset of Finland try to play down New Zealand atrocities but fail”

Once again politicians and the media show no leadership about the terrorist attack in New Zealand

Posted on by Migrant Tales

THIS STORY WAS UPDATED

…everything we say to try to tear people apart, demonizing particular groups, set them against each other…that all has consequences.

Waleed, a news presenter from TheProjectTV

The atrocity we witnessed through the media of the cold-blooded and calculated killings that left so far 49 dead and many wounded in New Zealand were not mentioned once by some ministers on Facebook. These ministers are the ones who have fueled and nurtured Finland’s hostile environment against Muslims and migrants. Moreover, how many editorials did you find in the Finnish media about what happened in New Zealand and how it is a warning to us too? 

Certainly, many politicians and government ministers were quick to show their moral outrage at the sexual abuse cases of Oulu by “people of foreign origin,” which is code for asylum seeker, Muslim and non-EU citizen.

The head of the National Coalition Party, Economy Minister Petteri Orpo, and Interior Minister Kai Mykkänen, were quick to pin the blame on the Muslim community for what some 20 suspects did. Mykkänen suggested that nationality laws would change and that a naturalized person’s citizenship could be revoked.

In one ad you can hear the voice of Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sports Sampo Terho, who heads Blue Reform,* one of the three members of the government, stating the “accomplishments” of his party. These are: “residence permits are no longer issued on permanent bases, the asylum process is faster and appeal times shorter for refugees, and tighter family reunification laws.”

Everything that Terho states and which Prime Minister Juha Sipilä approves with his silence, is stoking and fueling the fires of hatred and Islamophobia in Finland.

Last but not least is Foreign Minister Timo Soini, who with his crafty opportunism gave far-right extremist Islamophobes a platform and voice. In the end, Soini got his fingers burned badly because of those forces that h aimed to keep on a short leash. He got bit back by them and brough his political future to tailspin in flames.

Soini’s office did shed a few crocodile tears for the victims in New Zealand by stating that what happened was “a cowardly attack of terrorism.”

Cowardly? I would point to the cowardice of the Sipilä’s government on challenging Islamophobia and anti-migration hatred.

It is clear that National Coalition Party Justice Minister Antti Häkkänen doesn’t like Muslims but is ready to capitalize on such hatred for his political means. He’s all for tougher laws and warns us about Sharia law when that is not even on the table in Finland.

What is lacking in Finland before and today is the moral courage to speak out against racism and fascism.

Disagree? Exaggerating matters?

What about the tweet below by Johannes Sipola, a Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Youth leader of the Northern Finnish region of Lapland?

What did Sipola say about the terrorist attack in New Zealand?

“The New Zealand case show ever-convincingly that multicultural society does not work. When other people [of other backgrounds] rape and kill enough [people], it is only a question of time when there will be a reaction from the opposite side. First and foremost, everyone defends their own.

The tweet above and the lack of condemnation [which Sipola would love to get] speaks volumes about the present situation.

I hope that what happened in New Zealand is a wake-up call to all of us and a warning that matters are spinning rapidly out of control. Will the Islamophobic PS, its silent supporters for its anti-Muslim rhetoric in government do well in the April parliamentary elections?

Let’s see what April 14 reveals.

* The far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.

Twitter: Perussuomalaiset Youth leader condones terrorist attack in New Zealand

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Johannes Sipola is a Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Youth leader of the Northern Finnish region of Lapland. He makes provocative statements like wishing only white men a nice father’s day but in the latest one, he condones the terrorist attack in New Zealand.

So what did Sipola say?

In the tweet below, he states: “The New Zealand case show ever-convincingly that multicultural society does not work. When other people [of other backgrounds] rape and kill enough [people], it is only a question of time when there will be a reaction from the opposite side. First and foremost, everyone defends their own kind.”

This statement is by a member of a party that was in government and has 17 MPs. The PS is participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections of April 14 and hopes to capitalize on anti-immigration sentiment as it did in the 2011 and 2015 elections.

* The far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, th e PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.

Shed an alligator tear for me: Foreign Minister Timo Soini condemns terrorist attack in New Zealand

Posted on by Migrant Tales

After creating a hostile environment against Muslims and migrants in Finland, Blue Reform* Foreign Minister Timo Soini has the audacity to condemn what happened in New Zealand as “cowardly,” according to Yle News. We condemn him and the actions of the Finnish government of cowardice in the face of defending and making every Muslim and migrant feel secure in Finland.

Disagree?

Check out the news coming from Oulu, which is named in the manifesto of the white supremacist that killed in cold blood about 50 Muslims during Friday prayers in Christchurch, New Zealand.

 

Read the full story here.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.

The price of hate and words have consequences: What goes round comes around

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The atrocity that struck Christchurch leaving about 50 people dead has its roots in Norway, Oulu and in other places where anti-Muslim hatred was challenged by silence. 

An eerie silence has befallen Finland’s biggest Islamophobic mouthpieces: the Perussuomalaiset,* Blue Reform and National Coalition Party.

A tweet by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

There is absolutely nothing except for silence coming from Jussi Halla-aho, Laura Huhtasaari, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Leena Meri, Kike Elomaa, Teuvo Hakkarainen, Petteri Orpo, Kai Mykkänen, Wille Rydman, Antti Hälkkänen, Susana Koski, Sampo Terho, Simon Elo and a long list of other politicians ready to sell their souls in order to get elected in April.

Read original tweet here.

Atrocities such as what happened in New Zealand not only instilled fear in the Muslim community of Finland but is a warning that this will happen again until the media and politicians take a tough stand against Islamophobia.

We need such leadership in Finland today and now.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.

The wrong question by Helsingin Sanomat that feeds anti-immigration sentiment and undermines human rights

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Helsingin Sanomat’s election or vote compass questions say a lot about how the Finnish media approaches and writes about asylum and migration issues. Martin Scheinin, international law and human rights professor at the European Institute University, raises an important point about how the newspaper approaches asylum policy. 

Scheiin tweets: “Hesari [Helsingin Sanomat] feeds anti-immigration sentiment that ignores Finland’s human rights’ obligation by juxtaposing[political] parties wrongly [on topics like] asylum. [The proper] question one should ask is whether Finland should comply whole-heartedly with its human rights obligations.”

Read the original tweet here.

While the Helsingin Sanomat election compass asks potential voters two questions about migration policy, an article by it publishes the following questions answered by the different parties. One of these is should Finland tighten asylum policy.

Most of the parties (National Coalition Party, Center Party, Blue Reform, Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, Christian Democrats, Seitsemän tähden liike) said they would tighten asylum policy. The Social Democrats and Liike nyt stated that asylum policy should remain unchanged while only the Greens, Leftwing Alliance and the Swedish People’s Party were in favor of loosening asylum policy.

The view that Helsingin Sanomat takes about asylum policy sheds light why human rights are on the defensive these days. It also shows why most mainstream parties are eagerly parroting the PS’ Islamophobic and anti-immigration rhetoric.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.

 

 

 

Newly appointed ombudswoman for children talks only about the plight of white children

Posted on by Migrant Tales

THIS STORY WAS UPDATED

The Helsingin Sanomat headline of the newly appointed Ombudswoman for Children, Elina Pekkarinen, says it all: “the new Ombudswoman for Children knows the needs of Finnish children. OK, fair enough. Newspapers decide on the wording of the headline. Even so, there is not one word mentioned how the new ombudswoman will protect the rights and situation of non-white Finnish children. 

One gets the view after reading the article that only white children who live in Finland matter. These cliens are served by other white officials who smile in pictures.

But all of this could be a mistake, right? Here is Migrant Tales overreacting again.

I visited the Ombudswoman for Children website and all the pictures portray the ideal family and smiling authorities who are all white.

If the webpage was anything to go by, there are no non-white children and parents living in Finland.

Read the full story (in Finnish) here.

The fact that the article is all smiles and all white tells me which groups calls the shots in Finland. It is another example how non-white children are treated and represented as second- and third-class members of Finnish society.

Comments Christian Thibault, Liikkukaa CEO: “Although we have to give Elina Pekkainen the benefit of the doubt, the attitude displayed in the HS article must raise eyebrows. Over 20% of the children in the Helsinki-Vantaa-Espoo region have at least one parent who was born in another country than Finland. It is naive, or even negligent, to maintain color blindness towards the situation of those children.”

And adds: “The statistics about discrimination and experience of violence by children [of color] with at least one immigrant parent speak volumes.”

Ahti Tolvanen, chairperson of the Forum for Foreign Scholars, writes on Facebook: “What exactly is the condition of underaged children seeking asylum in this country? Seems many are kept with their parents in the same substandard reception centres in overcrowded conditions. Are suspect kids of parents with asylum refusals often get separated from their parents just like in the US? This lady has an assignment waiting for her.”

Susannah, a member of Migrant Tales who writes on condition of anonymity, writes: “The constitution also guarantees rights to migrants. One of these rights is not to be returned to a country where your life would be in danger.”

Congratulations on your appointment, Elina Pekkarinen, but what are you going to do about improving the plight of non-white Finnish children and families? This question is not addressed in the Helsingin Sanomat article.

Just asking.

See also:

Exposing Finnish white privilege #61: #NoRacismInUniversity #WeAreNotSkinColour

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The fact that a group of black researchers headed by Dr Faith Mkwesha are challenging institutional racism at Åbo Akademi reveals a lot about the nature of the beast and how too little is done today to tackle racism. Dr Mkwesha is a researcher at Helsinki University and Åbo Akademi. 

A petition, which has already received over 1,100 signatures, requests the rector of Åbo Akademi University, Mikko Hupa, and the Minister of Education Sanni Grahn-Laasonen to put an end to all forms of racism against black, brown and racialized students at Finnish universities.

You can sign the petition here.

According to Dr Mkwesha, a black researcher at Åbo Akademi University found a racist card in the mailbox of her office. When a complaint was filed to the head of the gender studies department, there was nothing done to support and protect the researcher.

Continue reading “Exposing Finnish white privilege #61: #NoRacismInUniversity #WeAreNotSkinColour”