Migrant Tales, Author at Migrant tales

Xenophobia and fearmongering are effective age-old control tools to keep the Finnish public in line and on a short leash

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Migrant Tales

One matter that some political parties like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* use constantly is the anti-immigration card to get votes and media attention. What can we say when a retired police service commissioner uses xenophobia and fear to boost book sales?

One important question that journalists should ask when covering a story is why did a certain piece of news become news at a particular time?

Retired Police Service Commissioner Mikko Paatero created quite a stir this week by claiming that asylum seekers in this country are secretly organizing and networking with criminal gangs.

Picking on asylum seekers is easy because they have no power. Paatero acts just like a bully at school.

One of the matters that surprised me about his statements was how much media attention they got.

Xenophobia and fearmongering go hand in hand. Our fear of the outside world in Finland has been an effective tool to control society and quell dissent. The name of Paatero’s book, “Faltering internal security,” spoonfeeds fear to the Finnish public. I don’t have to buy and read this book to understand what its message is.

Paatero’s book, “Sisäinen turvalisuus horjuu” (Faultering internal security), is political. He uses age-old social ills like xenophobia and fearmongering to keep the public on a short leash and to attack those that disagree with him. One of the messages of his book is to get more money for the police service because, according to him, insecurity and possible crime by asylum seekers, among others, are on the rise.

Continue reading “Xenophobia and fearmongering are effective age-old control tools to keep the Finnish public in line and on a short leash”

Suomen Kuvalehti: The Finnish government’s hardline immigration stance is not the standard in other European countries

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Migrant Tales

Finally, some Finnish media, like Suomen Kuvalehti, is investigating the abuses and lies of the government against Iraqi asylum seekers. As Migrant Tales has pointed out previously, there are many scoops ready to be reported if only the media cared to look closer and write about them.

When the media doesn’t question or permits the government to get away with a lie you allow the tale to grow.

The Suomen Kuvalehti story is a positive example of how the media is telling the government to stop spreading half-truths and lies about its immigration policy. Don’t do that because we’ll investigate and publish what really happens.

On Sunday, we saw Helsingin Sanomat publish an investigative piece about problems at the Finnish Immigration Service.

One of the excuses that the government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä has used to justify its draconian line on immigration policy is that “the same happens elsewhere in Europe.”

Nonsense and doubletalk.

Xenophobic parties like the Perussuomalaiset* are quick to criticize EU encroachment in Finland’s affairs but are more than happy to cherry pick the hardline immigration policies of countries like Denmark.

Read the full story (in Finnish) here.

According to Suomen Kuvalehti, 64% of Iraqis got asylum in Europe last year while in Finland the corresponding figure was 26%.

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Iraqi asylum seeker Majid*: The Finnish Immigration Service made me lose all hope, that’s why I wanted to take my life

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Migrant Tales

Beri Jamal, Zimema Mhone and Enrique Tessieri

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon of June when Migrant Tales met Majid, an Iraqi asylum seeker who attempted to take his life after he had lost all hope.

At first glance, Majid had the appearance of many young asylum seekers you’d meet in Finland. But it was his story that stood out from the rest of them.

According to Majid, the assessment by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), which claimed that countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia are “safe” to return asylum seekers, was what caused him to lose hope. The long waiting for a residence permit is another reason he cites as were the high negative decisions by Migri.

Reader discretion is advised.

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Majid: “The day after the [Oikeus elää – Right to live –???? ?????] demonstration [in Helsinki]… after I returned to the refugee centre… I felt that nothing will change and it made me really sad. I thought that if they send me back to Iraq… I will still die, so in every way, I was condemned to die by Migri.

[When I decided to take my life] I was awake until three o’clock in the morning. It was then that I decided I did not want to live any longer.

I took a knife and stabbed myself five times on the top of my head until I started bleeding profusely. I tied up towels and made a long enough noose and tied it to the ceiling. I then took a trash can that was in the room… stood on it… tied the noose around my neck… and tilted the bucket until ?my body was hanging from the ceiling.

Earlier, one of the guys I shared a room with, notified the refugee center’s security guards. He had a feeling that I going to commit suicide.

I was unconscious when the security guards found me…. and when I woke up, I found myself in a hospital. The situation is very complex and difficult to explain, and I do not know what my future holds.

I don’t know if the Finnish government will allow us [Iraqis] to live or die. And if I begin to lose hope again… I will repeat what I did. To go back to Iraq? I will never do it. I am dead either way.

Majid:”I felt that nothing will change… and it made me really sad. I thought that if they send me back to Iraq… I will still die, so in every way, I was condemned to die by Migri.” Photo: Enrique Tessieri

Continue reading “Iraqi asylum seeker Majid*: The Finnish Immigration Service made me lose all hope, that’s why I wanted to take my life”

Helsingin Sanomat article on the Finnish Immigration Service sheds light on an institution distanced from human rights and Nordic values

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Migrant Tales

It is surprising that whenever a Finnish government tightens immigration policy, it washes its hands by stating that it’s common practice in the EU or Sweden. Is it? If a landmark decision last month by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is anything to go by, the government’s hardline stance on returning asylum seekers to a “safe” country like Iraq is more than questionable.

The controversial case in Sweden, involving three Iraqi asylum seekers and the Swedish government ended in a favorable ruling for the Iraqis.

Writes the Daily Express:

“The controversial case could set a precedent for the remaining 27 member states after the court’s refusal to accept the national judgement.Sweden ordered the deportation of the trio after turning down their asylum claim in 2011. Decision makers ruled although there is an ongoing terror threat in Iraq, the danger is not such that it effects every person in every town. But the family fought the government in the highest court and have won the right to remain.”

Even if a lot of people were surprised by Sunday’s Helsingin Sanomat story about the tough line that the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) concerning Iraqi asylum seekers, we weren’t.

One recent victim of Migri’s policies is Mohammed Khulbus Idnan, a former Iraqi asylum seeker who returned to his country and was shot by militias.

Pictures of Mohammed Khulbus Idnan in hospital after returning to “a safe” country like Iraq.

After meeting with many asylum seekers and workers at asylum reception centers, it was clear that Migri had in place a “fast-track” system to send back as many asylum seekers as possible to countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

After the Helsingin Sanomat story was published on Sunday, there was nothing than denials from Prime Minister Juha Sipilä that the government wasn’t pressuring Migri to make as many negative decisions as possible.

The denial by the prime minister is highly incriminating.

(UPDATE 5.9) Social Democrat MEP Liisa Jaakonsaari blames directly the government for Finland’s hardline stance.

Jaakonsaari tweets that “it’s despicable to blame the Finnish Immigration Service when in fact [the hardline stance on asylum seekers] is government policy.”

(UPDATE 6.9)

It appears that Khulbus Idnan isn’t Migri’s only victim. The Facebook posting below was published on Monday.

Thank you Tino Singh for the heads-up.

Another posting on Monday in Migrant Tales tells about a young Iraqi asylum seeker who attempted to take his life because Migri had forced him to lose all hope.

Continue reading “Helsingin Sanomat article on the Finnish Immigration Service sheds light on an institution distanced from human rights and Nordic values”

The refugee business in Finland is booming

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Migrant Tales

What do you think about private companies making profits off asylum seekers? What do you think about this company, whose turnover rose to 12 million euros and paid bonuses to its major shareholders, which has been accused of treating asylum seekers under its care “like livestock?”

Do you understand the Finnish state, which is supposed to be a model of the Nordic welfare state, allows a private company to take care of people that seek asylum in our country?

That’s like subcontracting the army or our school system to a private company that only thinks of one matter: profit.

Mohammed Khulbus Idnan’s perilous journey from Finland back to a “safe” country like Iraq

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Migrant Tales

The suffering of tens of thousands of asylum seekers continues in Finland and there are no signs that matters will improve. The Finnish government, which has made it clear that it will deport the majority of asylum seekers who came to Finland, has risen the stakes.

The latest move came on September 1, when a new law came into force that shortens appeal times thus adding more grief to asylum seekers.

It is incredible that a country like Finland, which claims to respect human rights, is ready to ditch them when it comes to asylum seekers from the Middle East and other parts.

One of the most preposterous claims by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), and backed by the government, is that countries like Iraq are safe and therefore asylum seekers can return home.

The pictures below are from an asylum seeker who “returned home” after waiting for a year* for his residence permit without luck. He returned to Iraq to see his mother who was going to die. That journey cost him a trip to the hospital after he was shot by militias.

A very free translation of the above text written in Facebook:

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(Migrant Tales, April 9, 2016): Keitä ovat kantasuomalaiset? Who are ethnic Finns?

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Migrant Tales

Tässä kysymys: Jos ihminen on virallisesti suomalainen kun hänellä on suomen kansallaisuus, miksi sitten puhutaan ulkomaalaistaustaisista ja maahanmuuttajataustaisista ihmisistä?

Keitä ovat kantasuomalaiset ja ketkä kuuluvat siihen ryhmään? Voisiko Afrosuomalainen olla kantasuomalainen? Entä Romani?

Kuinka kauan tai montaako sukupolvea täytyy ihminen asuu Suomessa ennen kun hänet hyväksytään kantasuomalaisiksi?

Tarkoitaako kantasuomalainen valkoista Suomalaista?

Jos olet kantasuomalainen onko sinulla eriarvoinen sosioekonominen asema muihin vähemmistöihin Suomessa?

Can Afrofinns be ethnic Finns as well? How do you define ethnic Finn? Photo: Enrique Tessieri.

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Here’s the question: If a person is officially a Finn when he is a Finnish citizen why do we still continue to label him a person with foreign background or with immigrant background?

Who are ethnic Finns and who can belong to that group? Can an Afro Finn be an ethnic Finn? What about a member of the Romany minority?

How long or how many generations must a person live in Finland to be considered an ethnic Finn?

Does ethnic Finn mean white Finn?

If you are an ethnic Finn does that mean you have certain socioeconomic privileges over other minorities in Finland?

Our new message to the world: Finland doesn’t like you so don’t even think of moving here!

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Migrant Tales

It’s clear that the government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä doesn’t like asylum seekers never mind cultural diversity. In the last few months, we’ve seen a tightening of immigration policy by the government, which sends out a clear message to would-be asylum seekers and migrants: Don’t even think of moving here!

Some may appear surprised by the government’s draconian and heartless measures that have far-reaching consequences for members of our ever-growing culturally diverse society.

When you do away with residence permits under humanitarian grounds, enact laws that make it virtually impossible to bring your family to the country and shorter appeal times for asylum seekers, you tell the world that all those nice things about being a tolerant country that respects human rights is a lie.

The message is clear: We don’t want you here – don’t even think of coming to this country!

Some very big questions that the latest law on shorter appeal periods is the right of asylum seekers to use lawyers when interviewed by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). Migrant Tales has heard that asylum seekers don’t have any longer the right to a paid lawyer at the Migri interview.

Imagine how difficult and complicated has Migri, with the blessings of the government, made life for asylum seekers in this country. Not only have they shortened the appeal periods but made legal help more expensive and complicated.

In Finland, it’s nothing strange that lawyers charge around 200 euros an hour for their services.

Read the full statement here.

There are countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and Argentina that have a rich history of how migrants built the country.

Continue reading “Our new message to the world: Finland doesn’t like you so don’t even think of moving here!”

Savon Sanomat: Kuka määrää, keitä me olemme?

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Migrant Tales

Tässä on yksinkertainen kysymys: virallisesti ihminen määritellään suomalaiseksi, jos hän on Suomen kansalainen. Jos hänellä on kansallisuus, miksi jatkuvasti muistutetaan, että hän on ”ulkomaalaistaustainen”?

Mitä oikeasti tarkoittaa olla ulkomaalaistaustainen henkilö tämän päivän Suomessa, jossa maahanmuuttajat ja vähemmistöt ovat useasti pelon lietsonnan, ksenofobian ja vihan kohteita?

Lue alkuperäinen juttu täältä.

Ruotsissa, jossa on moninkertaisesti enemmän maahanmuuttajia kun meillä, käytetään samaa määritelmää. Filosofi Michael McEachraneTukholmasta kertoo, että Ruotsissa ”ulkomaalaistaustainen” on viranomaisten koodikieli, joka tarkoittaa ei-eurooppalaista tai ei-valkoista eurooppalaista. Suomen poliisi kiistää, että sana tarkoittaa ei-eurooppalaista ihmistä.

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Is this an example of how racism appears in the Finnish media?

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Migrant Tales

There is a lot of shoddy journalism out there but the worst of the lot is journalism that reinforces and spreads prejudices, racism and bigotry.

I couldn’t believe me eyes when I read the following headline today: “The much-feared rape wave [by asylum seekers] didn’t happen, police confirm.”

The first question that comes to mind is where did the reporter that wrote the story assume that there was going to be in a rape wave committed in summer by asylum seekers?

Can the Finnish media be so gullible, even racist?

Can the Finnish public be so gullible, even racist?

Yes, they can.

Read the full story here.

Since the majority of all rapes committed in Finland are done by white Finnish males, why doesn’t the story even bother to mention this fact?

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