Writes Ahti Tolvanen, Migrant Tales board member: Paco Diop, a Senegalese Finnish kindergarten teacher who is running for Member of the European Parliament (Left Alliance), spoke at the demonstration in front of the Finnish Parliament on UN Anti-Racism Day March 21st organized by AFARS r.y. (Africans in Finland Against Racism ry).
“Dear listeners,
It’s time to talk about an important issue that deeply affects our values: human rights violations during the current Finnish government’s time.
If Finland was once known worldwide as a strong supporter of human rights, democracy, and equality, the current government has unfortunately weakened this reputation.
Lately, we have seen worrying trends that need our immediate attention and action.
The foreign policy of this government has been poor and dangerous for Finland from the start, even though they selfishly and falsely claim otherwise.
We know who represents Finland at the UN and in foreign policy arenas, and they have betrayed the trust of the Finnish people and those living in Finland.
It’s shameful that Finland has chosen to abstain in situations that require a clear stance, like the severe actions in Gaza by Israel or issues related to the criminalization of Islamophobia.
This raises questions:
Is this government supporting genocide? The answer is yes.
Is our current government against Islamophobia? The answer is no.
Friends, personally, I have not seen any real action that shows the government’s opposition to genocide, Islamophobia, racism, or any other discrimination.
Instead, this government has only strengthened its support for the far-right and Zionist political agenda. The government has not taken actions against racism in this country.
I no longer want to hear from the government. In my view, Orpo’s announcements are just smoke screens and won’t change. Instead, I want to say that the discussion about racism cannot be decided only by white Finns, like Petteri Orpo and his racist friends.
Petteri Orpo protects racists and ministers who have suggested killing small black children.
The government’s racist logic is that if children and adults are not white Europeans, they do not have the right to basic security, support, or rescue from genocide and famine.
This government has organized a round-table discussion on so-called racism. At the same time, it implements policies that systematically weaken the lives of non-white people in Finland in many ways. What does this say about the underlying attitudes? Is the underlying thought that non-white people don’t understand this? We are not stupid, unlike what the government imagines.
The same government thinks that being out of work for more than three months in Finland is a valid reason to deport people. I ask, what has gone so wrong in this country that people can be treated so inhumanely: used when needed, and thrown out when no longer useful?
Due to this government’s racist practices, the mistreatment of asylum seekers and refugees has intensified and become established.
The Finnish Party’s racist slogan and wishes have always been “close the borders.” Now, this is being implemented by breaking international agreements. Orpo is helping the Finnish Party at any cost, so his government stays up.
Long asylum processes and inhumane conditions, as well as practices that deport people to dangerous countries, reveal a lack of compassion and justice.
This government has often shown, even symbolically with scissors in a picture, that it has no compassion for anyone who doesn’t belong to their elite gang. Friends, this government’s gang mentality knows no bounds.
We must also pay attention to human rights that are under threat. The government’s actions have raised concerns about freedom of speech and discrimination against global majority members.
Ongoing challenges to racism, gender equality, and the rights of gender minorities show that our society is still struggling to achieve true inclusiveness.
Friends!
Thank you for being here today.
The fight for justice, equality, and human rights continues, and it requires commitment from all of us.”