As Migrant Tales correcty predicted, 2024 was going to report a new record in suspected hate crimes after 2023 broke a new record. Suspected hate crimes,* (1) which is only a tip of the iceberg, soared in 2024 by 12.58% to 1,808 cases versus 1,606 cases the previous year, according to the Police University College.
As in 2023, the majority (67.6%) of cases were due on ethnic and national origin, rising by 12% to 1,223 cases from 1,092 cases. While hate crime due to religion retreated by 8.75 to 158 cases (8.7% of all cases), hate crime due to disability soared by 36.7% to 175 (9.67%) cases with sexual orientation totalling 241 (13.3%), up 12.09%.
The report cited Muslims and Syrians in particular as the most victimized groups.
Source: Police University College
“Jenita Ranta, the author of the report, blamed the record rise of hate crime cases in 2023 on factors like Russian aggression in Ukraine and the poor economic situation. While the report did not cite specific reasons for the new rise in hate crimes in Finland, it’s clear that the economy and the weak response of the government to racism are at the heart of the problem.”
Some see the National Coalition Party (NCP) as the enabler of the Perussuomalaiset’s (PS)* extreme immigration policy, which constantly labels Muslims and other minorities as “the problem.”
But it would be misleading to just blame the government and the economy for the rise in suspected hate crimes. The media is another culprit that rarely challenges and gives a voice to migrants and minorities.
(1) The Police University College report defines suspected hate crimes as reports where a hate motive is manifest. In 2024, the number of suspected hate crimes increased in all motive groups in the report, except for crimes related to religion or belief. The most common motive was the victim’s ethnic or national background.