A Turku Court of Apeal dropped all charges on 23.3 against seven police and security guards who removed a hijab by force from two asylum seekers in 2017. Apart from the long path of due justice, the case is unsettling because it raises the following question: why is it that a Muslim woman can use the hijab in a passport picture if she has a residence permit but not if she is an asylum seeker?
The ruling, in my opinion, is shameful and shows how little regard the police have for religious freedom of Muslims. Moreover, the five-year wait for the case to be finally decided by the Court of Appeal is a blow to trust of Finland’s legal system.
In an email dated 29.10.2022, prosecutor Heidi Suvirinne, told Migrant Tales that the Court of Appeal will not look at at the case if the police had the right to use force to remove the hijabs.
“I look at the case from a legal point of view, and the important thing is that the Court of Appeal will decide whether the police had the right to use force and whether the use of force was in concordance with the law; if not, assault [committed by the acquitted suspects).”
What is your opinion about this case?
Please send your replies to [email protected].

Read the full story here.Source: Helsingin Sanomat.
Further reading:
- Should we be surprised that the Finnish police forced Muslim women to remove their hijabs? Not.(4.9.2022)
- Finnish police physically forced Muslim asylum seekers to take off their hijabs (3.9.2022)