The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.
Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)
The quote by the Italian Marxist philosopher, writer and linguist, sheds light on the troubled times we are living in. We can witnes the wrecking ball in the United States, Gaza, and in many troubled regions of the world.
Trump’s National Security Strategy (NSS), which warns Europe of “white civilization erasure” and throws its support to far-right parties, is the best example of how the US is spreading its imperialist intentions.
Even if Finland’s far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party is silent but supports in principle the NSS, the recent racism slanted-eye scandal involving two MPs and an MEP, tells us that racism is the anti-immigration party’s DNA.
An interesting question we can ask is why this particuar racism scandal, which insulted Asians got so much attention? The party normally attacks Muslims and other racialized minorities without any major consequences.
Is it because Asians are considered closer to “white” Finns than say Arabs?
Below, is a shameful picture of the PS politicians who said they “didn’t mean to insult anyone.”
From left to right: Juho Eerola, Kaisa Garedew ja Euroopan parlamentin jäsen Sebastian Tynkkynen. Photo: Facebook.
At a recent parliamentary session Thursday, Finance Minister and PS chairperson Riikka Purra gave a surreal answer when grilled by opposition politicians abour the scandal.
“…through the actions of the Perussuomalaiset, and in particular through the statements and actions of the individuals concerned, this matter has been made quite clear,” said a visibly irritated Purra. “I can stand behind this because I know that these Perussuomalaiset representatives did not have racist intentions [when they slanted their eyes].”
With opinion polls showing a dim picture of the PS as the 2027 general election nears, the PS has ratched up its attacks on Muslims and other minorities.
One of the latest attacks that Purra and her PS followers have embarked on is assauting Muslim school children (see picture below).
Translation into English: “Just like the Perussuomaaiset have demanded for years, the burka, niqab and scarves used by little girls should be totally prohibited. ‘The first step should be to prohibit them at schools.'”
Lawmakers in Austria passed legislation in December that girls younger than 14 will not be permitted to wear headscarves that “cover the head in accordance with Islamic traditions” in all schools, with non-compliance fines ranging from 150 to 800 euros, according to Al-Jazeera.
Farid Hafez, who is one of the editors of the European Islamophobia Report, a political scientist who teaches international relations at William and Mary, quoted The Guardian: “Austria’s fixation on legislating against the hijab is not about safeguarding children but about entrenching exclusion, normalising Islamophobia as mainstream politics, and signalling to a new generation of Muslims that their place in Austrian society will always be precarious.”
The same dangers that Hafez mentioned in Austria could also have a negative impact in Finland.
The hatred that Purra and her party has against Muslims knows no bounds.
