Tag: Racism

Suspected hate crimes soar to a record level in Finland in 2023

Posted on by Migrant Tales

THE STORY WAS UPDATED

A record number of suspected hate crimes* were reported in 2023, rising by 28.99% to 1,606 cases compared with 1,245 cases the previous year, according to the Police University College. The author of the report, Jenita Ranta, blamed “societal factors” like the Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the poor economic situation of people that fuel hate crime.

Ranta talks about these above factors but is silent about an obvious factor: racism in Finland.

Moreover, if last year was a record, we expect 2024 to be another record year when it comes to hate crimes.

The hate crimes reported to the police are only the tip of the iceberg.

As in previous years, hate crimes due to ethnic or national background stood at 68% of all hate crimes, rising last year by 17.42% to 1,092 cases versus 930 cases. That was followed by hate crimes on the grounds of religion or belief (10.3% of all hate crimes), which jumped by 36.36% to 165 cases.

By national group, the Somalis were one of the most affected by hate crimes as were Muslims.

The majority of hate crimes were physical assaults and verbal insults.

Source: Police University College

“Under this group, the biggest group of victims were Muslims. In the statistics on last year’s hate crime reports, it is noteworthy that for the first time ever, there were more suspected hate crimes against Jews or Jewishness than there were suspected hate crimes against Christians. However, Islamic people were most commonly targeted,” according to the Police University College.

Hate crimes committed against sexual minorities (10.6% of all hate crimes) rose by 53.57% to 215 cases, while disability (8%) saw the biggest rise, soaring 137.04% to 128 cases.

*”In general terms, hate crime is a crime motivated by prejudice or hostility towards the victim’s ethnic or national origin. The crime may also be targeted at members of the majority population.” Police University College

Despite assuranced to the contrary, the Finnish government is a far-right homophobic, Islamophobic bad joke

Posted on by Migrant Tales

THE STORY WAS UPDATED

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

The saying sits well with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government. Can you teach a party like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* to be civil and ditch their racism? For the PS to turn in a new political leaf and abandon their nationalist rants and xenophobia would be tantamount to political harakiri.

One matter that I have never grasped and accepted is how so-called mainstream parties like the National Coalition Party (NCP), the media, allow politicians of the PS to bash and denegrate migrants and minorities.

The latest scandal to hit the government involves minister of foreign trade and development, Ville Tavio, a PS politician who has made a name for himself as a far-right homophobe, Islamophobe and xenophobe.

The unilateral decision by Tavio not to participate in a gender-equality alliance for the rebuiling of Ukraine which also include sexual minorities, has received a lot of criticsm from President Alexander Stubb.

“I hope that in the future we will not see similar mistakes from the ministry for foreign affairs, that the president will not be informed of matters that belong to the minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, but are related to our foreign and security policy,” Stubb was quoted as saying in Yle News.

Just as the dust was settling, Tavio was quoted in Helsingin Sanomat by stating: “I support the rights of sexual minorities. The Perussuomalaiset will secure a better Finland for sexual minorities in general by opposing Islamzation.”

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio. Source: Kauppalehti.

Even if we can point out the NCP’s political sin of going to bed with the PS, Finland has the government it deserves. If you look at their over first year in government, the question is what type of Finland will we have at the end of their term in 2027?

What will our welfare state look like and how much will social inequality grow and polarize our country? Would you dare to see?
It would be naive to believe that Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government will strengthen our welfare state The only matter it will strengthen is social inequality. As mentioned in a previous posting, about one third of Finnish voters are racist. The rise of the PS is a good example of the latter.

Going back to the original question: Can you teach a dog new tricks?

No, but if its racism is stongly grounded on racism, nationalism and social exclusion, then you can. The dog does not learn new tricks per se but is emboldened to carry out its old tricks.

Ahti Tolvanen*: Finland’s pushback law undermines the rule of law

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The problem with this law is that it calls into question the whole idea of the rule of law. It allows the Finnish government to declare that there is a threat at the border of a “hybrid invasion”.
This declaration can be made based on secret security  information the government may claim to have and no court can examine and rule on the validity of the information.
The declaration of a hybrid invasion will allow the border authorities to turn away anyone and everyone no matter what danger they are facing. This can include both foreigners and Finnish citizens as the authorities have emergency powers to forgo examination of documents and identities. In fact as Minister Mari Rantanen has stated, the persons crossing the border may not even know themselves that they are involved in a hybrid invasion. So there is no real way of knowing who the government is “pushing back” at the border or why or what will happen to them outside Finland. In fact, if there are people the government does not like, the government now has the powers to expel, beat up or even shoot dead persons they do not like without legal accountability. All they have to do is wait until these unlikeable people are at a border point and then enact this new so-called law which can be done in very short order.

“Pushbacks” carried out under this law are not appealable or open to judicial review.
Backers of the law argue that it will only be applied in rare and unusual situations.


They said the same about the Valtalaki when it was adopted. It was enacted for the first time during the Corona epidemic to close off Uusimaa from the rest of the country.
The problem is that when such laws for rare powers are adopted, the government soon finds ways to use them to extend their power, The Valtalaki was challenged in Parliament and eventually ended by a vote by MPs.   The “Pushback Law” is special in that it has no provision for parliamentary review.
The EU human rights court may yet weigh in on the law but there are forces at work to also erode the rule of law in the EU with a similar law EU wide.  And you thought the rule of law was sometning Finland champions in the world?
 

*Ahti Tolavanen is a regular Migrant Tales contributor and a member of the editorial board.

A vital crossroad for Finland

Posted on by Migrant Tales

In light of the rise of the far right and the anti-migration megaphone getting louder in Finland and Europe, are we at a crossroads? Does it boil down to two factors: inclusion or exclusion?

One of the matters missing today in our ever-growing culturally diverse society is credible pathways to inclusion and citizenship. This may be easier said than done considering how narratives are stacked against migrants and minorities by politicians, the media, and the public.

But how can we speak and advance inclusion and citizenship if our politicians, and institutions are more interested in stressing us versus them?

Historically, Finland has done everything possible to put the breaks on migration. In the 1970s, when Finns were emigrating in droves to Sweden, the government at the time could plug the labor shortage with migrants.

You guessed right: it turned down such an opportunity and today we are paying a high price for such short-sightedness.

And let’s not forget the hostile environment, which like in the UK in 2012, passed laws to make staying in the country as difficult as possible.

Few if any brave voices are coming out from the jungle to challenge institutional racism and exclusion.

Let’s look at Finland’s migration policy, which Interior Minister Mari Rantanen has called a paradigm shift. Such policies are driven by mistrust and suspicion of our ever-growing culturally diverse communities. If we continue on this ruinous path, we will fail at building a well-functioning society.

Here is the sobering news: To alleviate our demographic woes and the negative environment against migrants and minorities, we will have to rewrite our new identity based on inclusion and citizenship.

Who we are and how we ientify depends on us and must be respected. The aim is not to become a carbon copy of Matti or Maija Meikeläinen but to celebrate our identity on our own terms.

If Finland fought heroically in the Winter War (1939-40) against all odds, it can overcome the next challenge that is based on its future survival and wellbeing

The threat against Finland’s democracy

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Far-right populism is an illness inflicting Europe at present and it now has a beachhead in Finland.

Migrant Tales (18.4.2011)

About 20% – if not more – of Finnish voters are racist di**heads.

Few, if any, were alarmed by the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* victory in the 2011 election, which raised the number of MPs to 39 from five previously. Too many believed, incorrectly, that the PS would implode like what happened with the Rural Party in 1972 after winning two years earlier 17 seats from one previously.

The PS did not implode but became the most successful party in general elections and continued its assault and chipping away at Finnish democracy. The PS and others like the National Coalition Party (NCP) disagree with the country’s liberal opening up after it became an EU member in 1995.

Many reforms were made at the end of the 1990s like the new Constitution, citizenship law, and others that encouraged inclusion and non-discrimination.

Apart from making Finland a more inclusive country that guarantees Human Rights and social equality, the present government is taking us in the opposite direction. Apart from trade union and the most vulnerable members of our society, the government is tearing away at the rights of migrants and asylum seekers.

The iliberal reforms even encouraged parliament in July to pass a law that shelves Human Rights, our constitutional rights, and international obligations by denying people asylum at the Finnish-Russian border.

Continue reading “The threat against Finland’s democracy”

Sentencing for aggravated defamation of a respected scholar on racism raises a lot of questions

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The sentencing of a respected scholar on racism of aggravated defamation by a Turku Court is more of a warning to others who may protest against ethnic profiling by security guards and the police. The verdict raises a lot of answered questions.

One of these is why was the seventeen-year-old put in handcuffs for not having a valid ticket. If he were white, would he have received the same treatment by the ticket inspectors and security guards?

The Helsinki Police, and the Finnish police in general, have a dismal reputation for dealing with ethnic profiling. It wasn’t too long ago when the police admitted that they did not ethnically profile anyone.

Why did the media think it is important to constantly identify the victim as “a dark-skinned” person?

Continue reading “Sentencing for aggravated defamation of a respected scholar on racism raises a lot of questions”

A future in the rearview mirror: Four years of reflection of an immigrant in Finland

Posted on by Yahya Rouissi

Finland, a bright yesterday, so vivid one feels he can still touch it: a society striving for better living standards, equitable opportunities, and ideals of fundamental human rights, a happy nation where almost all its inhabitants did not feel a sharp gap between the rich and the poor, a country that did not leave the poor (low-income or vulnerable people) to fend for themselves… or behind.

While promising a better tomorrow, the future echoes a growing economic divide, which will come with social tension, mental anguish, and an era of unrest, to be the next generation’s inheritance. An inheritance of an incohesive society, deteriorating public welfare systems, decline of social safety nets particularly for low-income people, seniors, and retirees, racism and fears instead of inheriting a world of endless possibilities. The promised magic wand turned out to be a grim scissors.

The drivers, while ignoring perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of this regressive trajectory, insist on (shifting from a society that celebrates openness and liberal values to one that is increasingly closed-off and xenophobic, eroding the fundamental human rights and disregarding the basic principles of human dignity), and is on its way to ‘no-‘ where they succeeded to tarnish to some extent the Finnish reputation on the global stage, the legacy of tolerance and progress that was built over years and years. It is being overshadowed by the very few, our happy four members in government have managed to do.

For there was nothing more fruitful for the political “leaders” but to blame it all on the “strangers” to their ideals, ideals that fit in few words, “whites, but not any, and with blue eyes but not from elsewhere.” No landmark was more celebrated on their way than how swift and effective it is, to approve and pass a law that pushes back those who are not welcome or desired. As the ‘car’ is effectively unreliable there were more than just frequent stops to fuel more hate and share some racism to “touch base” and distract the curious followers questioning the destination.

Ai generated image by the author. “We just invented a new way to drive…Just like we do in government, we don’t need a steering wheel, driving direction, or even direction. If y scissors can find a solution, it should not be seen as a real problem.”

If immigrants and their contribution to society, the economy, and professional labor are the issues, one should think if the ones that are accepted or needed would not accept a better offer, with lighter workloads and better pay elsewhere, from very close nations that for them people are valued, nations that have become favored for among others like Finnish professionals to move and work in.

Two-headed car from the famous Uuno Turhapuro movie, ”Uuno Espanjassa”

From ‘Kaksipäinen auto’ from Uuno Espanjassa that brought laughter and joy to ‘kaksipäinen hallitusohjelma‘ of our ‘Leaders’ which does not in any way bring more than gloom. The peculiar car in many ways portray the contradictions, open but very closed, liberal but very conservative, “Zero tolerance” but very racist and government program to combat racism but the program they came up with!

The government’s celebration of their way out of many racist scandals ‘Me Puhumme Teoin’ (Action, not only words) campaign reminded me of a saying I heard:

“Not every bump in a belly is a ‘blessed’ baby, more often than not, it’s just gas.“

Finnish JHL union sees and reacts to the racist government elephant in the room

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Few will deny in the face of racism scandals in the summer of 2023 that the government’s anti-racism plan is a cover-up, according to the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL).

“We thank warmly all experts who have participated in the planning of this [government anti-racism Action Plan] campaign for their good work,” said JHL’s Chief Executive Officer Mari Keturi. “Unfortunately, the government’s actions blatantly conflict with the objectives of the campaign. We speak with action…”

The aim of the Action Plan for Combating Racism and Promoting Equality was not to tackle racism in Finland, but to save the government’s skin from all the racism scandals it endured in the summer of 2023.

Read the original statement here.

The Finnish Muslim Forum (Suomen Muslimifoorumi ry) released a statement on the government’s action plan and found the following shortcomings:

Continue reading “Finnish JHL union sees and reacts to the racist government elephant in the room”

The elephant in the room and Finland’s hostile environment against migrants

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Finland’s xenophobic message has been based for years on lies. Instead of lying, why not ratchet up the hostile environment against migrants and minorities? Be honest with yourself. The government is now spearheading these lies to justify their inhumane and counterproductive policies.

Just like in the UK in 2012, Finland is passing laws to make staying in the country as difficult as possible.

Considering Finland suffers from a labor shortage due to its aging population, what is the motive for tightening further migration laws, or as Perussuomalaiset (PS) Interior Minister Mari Rantanen called a paradigm shift?

Another example of the hostile environment was a government announcement in July to prohibit basic health care for undocumented migrants. Source: Yle News

Thank you Ambrosius @ambrowoll for the heads-up!

Pasi Saukkonen, senior researcher at the Urban Research and Statistics unit of the City of Helsinki, said what has been known for a very long time: “Finland has never been a major destination for international migration. The share of the foreign-born population is among the lowest in Europe. Refugee numbers have been low, with more asylum seekers arriving only in the early 1990s and in 2015.”

Historically, we could call Finland a nation of emigration.

Continue reading “The elephant in the room and Finland’s hostile environment against migrants”

Finnish justice ministry plans to slash Council for Mass Media’s aid

Posted on by Migrant Tales

A widely criticized decision by Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Justice Minister Leena Meri to slash the Council for Mass Media’s (JSN) aid next year, should not only be seen as another step by the PS and government to undermine the role of the media.

JSN Chairperson Eero Hytönen said in Journalisti that it was “a political decision by the minister [Meri].”

Read the full story (in Finnish) here.

Hytönen said the original proposal for state aid to JSN by ministry officials was different from Meri’s decision.

Meri has denied Hytönen’s claim.

Continue reading “Finnish justice ministry plans to slash Council for Mass Media’s aid”