Seeking revenge for doing her job, non-discrimination ombudswoman Kristina Stenman is denied a second term thanks to the PS

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The non-discrimination ombudswoman, Kristina Stenman, who began her term in August 2020, was not chosen to continue in her post due to pressure from Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, according to reports by Helsingin Sanomat. Upon investigating the changes in the quota refugee system in 2025, which would be manipulated by PS Interior Minister Mari Rantanen’s office to exclude Muslims, Stenman started an investigation that alleged Rantanen wanted changes in the quota-refugee system for this year. 

In April, Tuomas Pöysti, chancellor of justice, ruled that Interior Minister Rantanan and her temporary replacement, Minister of Transport and Communication Lulu Ranne, did not act unlawfully. Even so, Pöysti stated that the quota allocation had been poorly handled and that “ministers and aides must ensure that their political guidance does not contain any discriminatory elements.”

Kristina Stenman and Rainer Hiltunen, the former and new non-discrimination ombudsperson. Source: Helsingin Sanomat

Writes Helsingin Sanomat: “According to sources by Helsingin Sanomat, the worsening of relations between the PS and Stenman contributed to Stenman not being granted a further term.”

Matters turned for the worse when, in March, Stenman and unit head Robin Harms said that the PS was “an openly Islamophobic” party. The PS, which is a master player in victimhood, cried foul and slammed the statement as “a shocking attack” on the party.

Having been active in foreigner and minority rights for decades, Stenman grew up in a bilingual family. She studied law as well as Engish and cultural anthropology at the University of Helsinki. She will be missed by many.

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Mahad Sheikh Musse*: Kirjoitus kolmella kielellä

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#Warbaahinta

Waa maxay sababta ay muhiim u tahay in la helo warbaahin #Af-Soomaaliga ku baxda ee ka hadasha arrimaha Finland ka dhaca?

Wararka iyo maqaalada lagu qoro Af-Soomaaliga, waxay fursad u siinayaan dadka Soomaaliyeed ee ku nool Finland in ay si fiican u fahmaan waxa ka dhacaya dalka, una eegaan arrimaha noloshooda khuseeya iyagoo adeegsanaya afkooda hooyo.

Waxaa aad muhiim u ah in warbaahintan ay si toos ah u sameeyaan dadkii ay khusayso – si ay u muujiyaan aragtidooda, waaya-aragnimadooda, iyo in codkooda la maqlo. Tani waxay fursad siinaysaa in la falanqeeyo arrimaha Finland ka jira iyadoo laga eegayo dhinacyo kala duwan oo laga yaabo in aysan had iyo jeer ka muuqan warbaahinta waaweyn.

Aniga ahaan, aad baan u jeclaan lahaa in aan helno warar ku saabsan Finland oo Af-Soomaali ku qoran – xitaa haddii ay noqoto mar bishii ama usbuuciiba mar. Waxay iga caawin lahayd in aan si fiican u fahmo bulshada aan ku dhex noolahay, isla markaana aan dareemo in aan ka mid ahay.

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Miksi #vähemmistökielinen#media on tärkeää?

Lehdet ja uutiset vähemmistön omalla äidinkielellä ovat olennaisia, jotta yhteiskuntaa voidaan ymmärtää omasta näkökulmasta käsin. Ne edistävät osallisuutta, vuoropuhelua ja auttavat siihen, että vähemmistöjen äänet tulevat kuulluiksi ja ymmärretyiksi.

Erityisen tärkeää on, että tätä mediaa tuottavat itse vieraskieliset ja vähemmistöön kuuluvat ihmiset. Se luo tilaa keskustelulle siitä, mitä Suomessa tapahtuu – vähemmistöjen omista kokemuksista ja näkökulmista käsin.

Minulle olisi henkilökohtaisesti todella merkityksellistä saada uutisia Suomesta somaliksi – vaikka vain kerran viikossa tai kuukaudessa. Se auttaisi minua pysymään ajan tasalla ja tuntemaan vahvemmin, että kuulun tähän yhteiskuntaan.

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A just and good ending to a cruel ordeal by Migri

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I recieved a phone call on Wednesday: “I have some good news,” I waited with keen anticipation for the next part of her sentence. “We were granted residence permits [by Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service]!”

“That’s great news!” I said.

The date, 25 june 2025, will stand out as one of the most important in the Iraqi family’s lives.

It was only in January that the family had received a deportation order to leave the country.

Their three children are today aged 16, 14 and 7 years.

Read the original posting here.

Should we thank Migri or ask where the family’s cruel ordeal originated? Having arrived in Finland ten years ago, it means that the children were six and four years old when they left Iraq. The youngest was born in Finland.

One of the arguments used by the family against deportation was their children, who had grown up and had a strong bond in Finland, like the languge.

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The US’ and Israel’s cowardly and politically motivated attack on Iran

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The United States has bombed Iran dragging the US into a new war in the Middle East. Even if Donald Trump said that the bombing on Iran’s nuclear sites were a “resounding success,” how many wars were won by simply bombing a country? None?

Trump is Benjamin Netanyahu’s humble servant. Both need a new war to help them improve their standings in opinion polls.

If you ask me, what happened will not weaken Iran’s nuclear program but will envigor it.

Like in the rest of the troubled region, wars and strife will cause millions to leave and knock on Europe’s high walls.

A shameful day of our hypocrisy.

What has Finland’s response been to the aggression or is it ok because Israel has the right to defend itself?

Shameful.

Perussuomalaiset finally entering the single-digit league

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The misfortunes of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* have been a source of concern from some and happiness for others. After the 2011 general election, when the PS won 39 seats versus five previously, some of us have had to put up with the party’s racism and Finland’s inability and normalization of anti-immigration populism.

The dire situation of the PS was highlighted again in Helsingin Sanomat’s opinion poll, which showed the party tied with the Left Alliance with 10% and just a heartbeat from entering the single-digit league.

In the 2007 general election, the PS received 4.05% of the votes granting it five MPs compared with three (1.57%) in 2003.

Source: Helsingin Sanomat

Some of the biggest excuses justifying and normalizing the PS’s entry into the political “big leagues” after 2011 are:

  • The party will implode like the Rural Party did in the 1970s;
  • Timo Soini is not a racist;
  • The PS is not an anti-Muslim party but one against the EU;
  • Jussi Halla-aho is the “bad” PS and Soini the “good” one;

There are many other excuses to justify the PS ideology and toxic politics.

Do you believe that the PS rating will dip into the single-digit leagues soon? Do you believe that the party’s situation will lead to early elections in the fall?

Mahad Sheikh Musse:* Kun pienet eleet satuttavat: Nuorisotyön vastuusta ja nuorten kokemuksesta.

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Se oli nopea hetki – kuva nuorten tapahtumasta, jonka piti välittää iloa, kohtaamista ja yhteisöllisyyttä. Mutta tarkemmin katsottuna jokin särähti.

Kuvassa näkyi nuorisotyöntekijä, jonka käden ele muistutti symbolia, jota on viime vuosina käytetty rasistisena viestinä – erityisesti äärioikeiston piirissä. Vaikka ele itsessään voi monelle näyttää viattomalta, konteksti, historia ja eleen ajoitus tekevät siitä merkityksellisen. Tämä ei tuntunut sattumalta.

Ammattilaisena nuorten parissa tiedän, että joka ikinen sana, ilme ja ele kantaa viestiä.

Ne voivat rakentaa tai rikkoa. Ne voivat antaa tunteen osallisuudesta tai ulkopuolisuudesta. Nuori, joka tunnistaa eleen merkityksen, ei voi olla miettimättä: Oliko tämä suunnattu minua kohtaan? Olenko minä täällä ei-toivottu?

Maahanmuuttajataustaisena nuorena tällaiset tilanteet jäävät ihon alle. Ne eivät ole vain yksittäisiä hetkiä – ne kietoutuvat osaksi laajempaa kokemusta, jossa joutuu jatkuvasti arvioimaan, onko ympäristö oikeasti turvallinen. Missä tahansa muualla ele olisi ehkä ohitettu, mutta kun se tapahtuu tilassa, jonka pitäisi olla turvallinen ja arvostava, se sattuu enemmän.

Rasismi ei aina huuda – se kuiskaa eleissä, nauruissa, sivulauseissa. Se voi piiloutua “vitseihin”, joita ei koskaan tarkoitettu vakavasti, mutta jotka silti osuvat. Ja se kasvaa, kun niitä ei tunnisteta eikä puututa.

Siksi antirasistinen työote ei ole valinnainen lisä nuorisotyössä – se on perusta, jolle kaikki rakentuu. Se tarkoittaa, että opimme tunnistamaan myös symbolien ja kielen piilomerkityksiä. Se tarkoittaa, että kuuntelemme, kun joku sanoo tulleensa satutetuksi – emme puolustaudu vaan pysähdymme. Se tarkoittaa, että otamme vastuun.

Nuoret tarvitsevat ympäristön, jossa he voivat tuntea kuuluvansa – ilman pelkoa, ilman jatkuvaa varuillaan oloa. Ja me aikuiset – etenkin me, jotka teemme töitä nuorten kanssa – olemme vastuussa siitä, millaisen viestin annamme. Meidän tehtävämme ei ole vain tukea nuoria, vaan myös katsoa itseämme peilistä.

Antirasismi ei ole yksittäinen teko, vaan jatkuvaa valintaa puhua, toimia ja kasvaa.

*Mahad Sheikh Musse monikulttuurisen nuorisotyön ammattilainen, joka omaa vuosien kokemus viranomaisten ja eri yhteisöjen kanssa työskentelmisestä. Hän on myös Migrant Talesin säännöllinen kolumnisti-kirjoittaja ja toimituksen jäsen.

The PS’ new board spells trouble for the party but good news for those who oppose far-right anti-immigration populism

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The Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party congress at Lahti exposed to the tee the far-right and racist beast that has always lurked inside the party. Riikka Purra, who won easy reelection as chairperson, rambled on with typical far-right talking points.

Claiming that white Finnish culture was under attack, she placed the blame on so-called mass immigration from developing countries that places strains on public services and will force the welfare state to collapse.

Purra equating Islam with “cultural intrusion” and how this is destroying the white social fabric of Finland. Oddly, she used the annual World Village Festival in Helsinki as an example of the cultural intrusion, which includes Islamization.

Without mentioning anyone specific, Purra states that “some decision-makers have themselves allowed, themselves demanded, and themselves promoted” the disintegration of Finnish culture.

If there are still any doubts that the PS isn’t a far-right and racist party, Purra’s speech leaves no room for doubt. Not only are her words offensive to migrants and minorities in Finland, but they are also a warning that matters could evolve like in the United States under Donald Trump. 

The newly elected leadership of the PS. From left to right: Party secretary Harri Vuorenpää, Simo Grönroos, Teemu Keskisarja, Riikka Purra, and Joakim VIgelius. Source: Suomen Uutiset.

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Finland voted Wednesday to exend the pushback law till end-2026

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UPDATE

The Finnish parliament passed Wednesday the extension of the pushback law until the end of 2026. The final vote was 168 in favor, 29 against and two absent, according to the Helsinki Times. The passage of the bill means that Finland will continue to flout internationtal law and its commitment to human rights. It will effectively mean that the Finnish-Russian border will remain closed.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us.

Stephen King

One matter is a near-sure way of getting support in Finland, and it is the threat of migration. Keijo Korhonen, a Center Party politician, made a name for himself in the 1980s by instilling fear that the fall of the USSR would force thousands of Russians to cross our border en masse.

Xenophobia and racism are potent components of the undercurrent of Finnish politics that has been recently exploited by the far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party. Anti-immigration was such a powerful topic that it handed the PS its historic win in 2011, when it saw the number of MPs rise to 39 from 5 previously.

In every general election after 2011, the PS has capitalized and done well thanks to their pet theme and message: the threat of migration.

On Wednesday, Parliament will vote for a continuation of the pushback law until the end of 2026, which effectively suspends the human right of seeking asylum.

The fear of migration, especially Muslims, is the fuel that the PS and government are using to get the extension of the pushback law across the finish line.

PS Interior Minister Mari Rantanen and the government have defended the law, citing “national security.” They claim that our national security is under threat, but they have not brought any evidence because it is a secret. But here is the question: How can you trust a xenophobic government and politicians who capitalize on racism? It’s like trusting the pyromaniac to put out a fire.

I have called the pushback law a farce and a lie to satisfy the political wet dreams of the PS.

It is shameful that parties like the Social Democrats, who should know better, with the majority supporting the bill that has caused damage to Finland’s international image and made us less secure.

How will the far-right PS exploit migrant crime in the general election of 2027?

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With the next general election on 18 April 2027, some eyes are pointing towards the Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, which suffered a catastrophic municipal and county election. If such misfortunes aren’t enough, recent opinion polls have put the far-right party in fourth place behind the Center Party.

The PS’ fall is significant. The last time the party was at 10% levels in the polls was in January 2019, when it was 9.7%. It is a far cry from its peak of 22.8% in January 2020.

Almost everyone knows that when the PS is facing problems, it turns to its immigration rhetoric. One reason the party has fared so well in the general elections after 2011 is that it has skillfully brought the “migrant threat” to the attention of voters.

Migrant Tales published in Reilumedia in 2023, highlighted the use of migrant crime by the PS as a ploy to attract voters. We wrote: As the past has demonstrated, the radical-right PS had lured voters through news stories involving migrants and asylum seekers committing crimes in the 2011, 2015, and 2019 parliamentary elections. One of the many big ‘migrant scandals’, the PS
wants to exploit for the April election is the threat of ‘youth gangs.'”

Below are some of the lessons learned from the potential youth gang problem that the media, the PS and police exploited for their own aims.

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Free Movement: The high cost of family reunification

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Migrant Tales comment: The whole family reunification process is expensive, long and exhausting. We have written a number of articles and this side of migration policy is terrible. When Finns emigrated to North America before World War 2, they brought their wife, children, relative and friend to their new country.

How time have changed!

Free movement is a network of migration activists functioning since 2006. Among us, there are students, healthcare professionals, researchers, construction workers, culture workers and artists, from Finnish and migrant backgrounds. We are politically and religiously independent, and our work happens through different working groups. The network is supported by the association Vapaa Liikkuvuus (Free Movement).

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