The right-wing government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo wants Finland to enforce a pushback law that will deny refugees the right to asylum. According to legal experts contacted by Helsingin Sanomat, they cannot recall a case in which a law sent to parliament is so clearly in conflict with international treaties signed by Finland.
The new law, if approved by a two-thirds majority (167 MPs) in parliament, will permit Finland to push back asylum seekers and deny their right to seek asylum.
Even if the law does not mention the word “pushback,” it does just that. It gives the Finnish Border Guards the right to send asylum seekers back to Russia and denies their right to seek refugees.
Even if the government committee led by Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Interior Minister Mari Rantanen that drafted the law said it was complicated and challenging, it must have been because it breaches international law and the Finnish constitution. Finland wants to draft a law that will break international and constitutional law.
Moreover, how can you trust an Islamophobic minister and radical right party like the PS of their good faith in drafting such a law?
Apart from showing the hostile face of the government towards the labor market and now refugees, Finland believes as a small country that it cannot come in harm’s way. If Finland wants to subvert human rights and international law, it can do so, but it may one day need those human rights to save its skin.
The interesting question to ask is what set of laws and international agreements does Finland plan to breach if the proposal is approved by parliament.
Shame on Finland!
