The government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä not only has tightened immigration policy but is complacent and near-silent about the rise of xenophobia and hate speech in Finland. Sure, we’ve heard so many times the familiar “we’re against racism” affirmations, which are only catchphrases that are not supposed to change anything.
If we are honest with ourselves, what can we expect from a government that has little regard for the most vulnerable sectors of society like the unemployed and those that are dependant on social welfare? If they treat people who live under the poverty line with disdain why would they care less for migrants never mind asylum seekers?
To make matters worse, Sipilä’s government comprises of a right-wing populist party, the Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, which has made a name for itself with its nationalistic anti-immigration and anti-EU rhetoric. What can you say about the PS’ partners in government, the National Coalition Party (NCP) and the Center Party, which should know better but don’t?
I’m surprised by how little attention we pay in Finland to the connection between the rise of anti-immigration populism and hate crimes. Few care since the bottom line is that society and its institutions see migration and cultural diversity as a threat. Policy, rhetoric, even the Finnish Immigration Service’s videos on Finland convey the same message: We see you as a threat.
Wednesday was another day this week when we saw another example of how fear turned to hate and complacency fuel the lowest form of racist behavior.
An asylum seeker had attempted to commit suicide at the Helsinki Railway Square, where the Iraqis and Afghans have been demonstrating against deportations since February. According to Helsingin Sanomat, the young asylum seeker had climbed a tree and attempted to hang himself.
While what happened is one of a myriad of examples of how Migri is a source of despair for migrants, it is incredible to note the knee-jerk reaction of hatred that flooded some social media sites on that day. Finland, one of the most richest countries in the world with its renowned education systems has people who would care less about exposing their hatred, racism and bigotry shamelessly.
One of these reactions to the attempted suicide was published in Sakari Timonen’s blog:
“Are there any interested persons ready to carry out a group hanging of asylum seekers [uses a derogatory term]? Since the euthanasia [bill] has moved forward [in parliament], we’re not in danger of being sentenced [for committing such crimes]. We could also burn them but I need a sponsor since, after paying taxes, I don’t have enough money to buy enough gasoline for the task. It could also be a French-style guillotine lynching, which would be triggered by pulling a rope [and then letting go of it]. SE (Suomi Ensin/Finland First far-right group) or any other one could organize a theme evening next to the [Helsinki Railway] square about these execution methods. There could also be a big plaque where it would read and promise that when you die you’ll be with 72 virgins in heaven. What I write isn’t racist since I am only thinking of the asylum seekers’ best interest of leaving Finland for good, if they can leave. I don’t know.”
That Facebook post was published this week by a Finn in a backdrop of government silence.
While these types of comments show the sickness that inflicts Finnish society today, the complacency and leadership by politicians is so obvious that it is socially nauseating. Good examples are NCP Interior Minister Paula Risikko who met with protestors of the Suomi Ensi camp last month as did ardent Trump supporter MP Laura Huhtasaari of the PS.
Huhtasaari encouraged Suomi Ensi demonstrators to continue with their fight against Muslim hordes and complimented them as “patriots.” She assured them that Donald Trump and other far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen are the new normal sweeping Europe.
Risikko and Huhtasaari belong to parties that are members of Sipilä’s government.
Even if fearmongering, demagoguery, xenophobia, pandering and hatred are the norm in today’s Finland, we are on a dangerous slippery slope.
The pyramid below offers us a good road map of where we’re heading.
* The Finnish name for the Finns Party is the Perussuomalaiset (PS). The English names of the party adopted by the PS, like True Finns or Finns Party, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and xenophobia. We, therefore, prefer to use the Finnish name of the party on our postings. The direct translation of “Perussuomalaiset” is “basic” or “fundamental Finn.”
Hate crimes…
YES YES YES million times YES here is Finland and Finland has a great hate speech talent, bully here bully there, Juha Sipilä Sipuli here and Juha Sipilä ripuli is in everwhere, he makes diarrhea easily and simply in Finalnd with his behaviours, words and actions and hate speech!
Here is Finalnd, land of bullies and racists ! law of Finland is racism, they even count our breath, 1 two 3, they are counting our INHALE AND EXHALE
So now you are refugee? why are you here?
Why you chose Finalnd ?
What time you will leave?
Why you came here?
What was your case?
Why you chose Finland?
Are you working?
Where?
What is your religion?
Do you eat possu? no i dont eat possu, oh okay then you are a muslim? no am not, whats wrong with mulsims, they are human too, … now i have to prove them all that am not a muslim, debate after debate, and every body watching me when i choose my food, why you never touch possu?
NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS , racists, bullies,…
Again next day
What do you think about Finnish language? is that a hard language ?
Well it was easy for me, and they say : no you are liar… even am talking to them in Finnish
Will you bring your family here?
Why this and why that? every single day you should answer their questions, at work, in shops, here and there…
Racist polices are every where… stop ! do you have ID ? show me your ID… check it check it, look at meee, doubt doubt, questions after questions, racists ! you are nothing with this uniform !
There is curfew in finalnd CURFEW !
Police and security guards are everywhere and they follow us here and there, bullies you are nothing with uniform
YOU PEOPLE STAND UP or stay in deepest hole of hell for ever !
Dont afraid of some cloths, they are only uniforms, no more no less, they are bigest cowards in the world !
Finnish society ?
Finnish society is mentaly sick, psychic, Harri Akkanen is not alone, people have his back !
Harri Akkanens are more than 1 and 100 , here are many and many, something around 5,000.000!
And law of Finland supports them perfectly, judges are racist and facist and super mentaly sick!
Law in Finland encourages people to feel free and do what ever they want against a refugee or immigrant ! no one will ask them why you killed a refugee, why you raped a refugee? why you attacked a refugee? why you called bad name a refugee?
They called me and calling me bad name very clearly at work, its true, its normal here, its like smoking sigarette for them ! like drinking coffee ! every single day, i have never seen a friendly face at my work, and i just keep silent, cant do any thing, complaint does not work, if i complaint to boss, they will kick me easily and i dont want to lose my work !
No one cares !
Here is Finland, land of hate and crime ! they think you are their slave and they can do whatever they want to you, they say Finland is my country and i have control on it ! back your home, no one invited you here!
You never can complaint to a police, even if a racist one is killing you, police wont do any thing, but racist police will wait, will watch and then will make a penalty for you, will insult you infront of people, will kick you in car, then jail, then torture….
And people will watch, some of them calls police SANKARI POLIISI hero police, some applause…
Because they will make trouble for yourself you never can ask help from a Finnish police, they are dangerous, aggressive, not normal ! Ha ha ha then there will be a court against you if you complaint !
Finnish judge is a wolf, hungry wolf, they look at you with hate and calling you terrorist !
Polices telling you shut up terrorist !
Who is terrorist? Who?
Me who has no right at all, who is in the corner, who is under attack, who is one and not million and millions, who pays Tax for your judge to drinks more alcohol , who pays tax for Sauli Niinistö to enjoys his beer on his cozy sofa and laughs at refuggee with his wife , Or you Vampires are terrorist , who have all power and supports in this land?
And people keep silent and enjoy it their hero police , well done, you are making a very interesting history for Finalnd !
You have millions problems in this land, but you all focus on refugee and immigrants… and you dont know nothing about them !
Yes Sweeping Dust under the Rug… its easy , you are lazy, you can not use your brain, … and then balme refugees for your insane culture !
And Finalnd is 50th world !
Please Mr world dont doubt !