One matter is for certain: You don’t need to prove somebody is a racist because that person does it for you. Racists also think people are stupid and can’t see through them.
While I am not suggesting that Turkkila is a racist, he’s had a big role in helping the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and its politicians to spread the party’s Islamophobic message and their brand of hatred of people of color.
Even if Muslims account for an estimated 1.8% of the total population and nonEU migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Africa amount to 16.9% (63,362
in 2017) of Finland’s foreign-born residents, Halla-aho, Huhtasaari, and other
Islamophobes like the neo-Nazi PVL make a big deal about Muslims being a threat
to society. Huhtasaari, who supports U.S. President Donald Trump and Hungary’s strongman Viktor Orbán, is worried about the “Islamization” of Europe. In a
recent post on social media, she expressed her three greatest concerns: “no substitution for Finland’s population and culture; we don’t want Finland taken over by
Islam; and we don’t want people in our streets to be substituted for women and
girls wearing veils.” Source: European Islamophobia Report 2018.
Some facts about how Turkkila and how he has furthered racism with the help of the Islamophobic network:
- He’s was PS Jussi Halla-aho’s campaign manager. Halla-aho was convicted in 2012 for ethnic agitation and breaching the sanctity of religion;
- Founding with Halla-aho or by himself Hommaforum, an Islamophobic platform to frame and attack antiracists and other people they don’t like;
- He is editor os Suomen Uutiset, a PS publication that regularly spews hatred and misinformation about people of color and Muslims.
The question: Does Matias Turkkila belong to the Islamophobic network of Finland?
Definitely yes!
Is the PS a far-right party?
You bet!
Is the PS Islamophobic?
Certainly!
Category: Enrique Tessieri