The recommendations made by the EU Commission in 2019 to the Finnish government to tackle hate crime and racism are facing an uphill battle. Justice Minister Leena Meri of the Islamophobic Perussuomalaiset (PS)* disbanded a ministerial committee in February based on 20 European Commission recommendations given to Finland to tackle racism and intolerance, according to tabloid Iltalehti.
Some see Minister Meri’s, the PS’ and the government’s anti-racism plan as the three monkeys above.
Minister Meri is another PS politician that is multiculturally challenged and who believes in conspiracy theories like the great replacement. Source: Iltalehti
One of the biggest differences between the present government and the European Commission is on present ethnic agitation laws. The PS’ Criminal Policy Program 2022 is a clear example and states that the penal code concerning ethnic agitation must be changed to ensure free speech and the possibility to criticize Islam.
Tweet: “Shall we talk about immigration? Parliament is currently debating a major package that would significantly tighten immigration policy. And what’s more, this is just the beginning.
Finland is gradually moving towards a tighter policy which is the new normal.
Hopefully, it is not moving too slowly and isn’t too late.”
Reading the most recent xenophobic tweet by the head of the PS, Riikka Purra, it’s clear that the government will do everything possible to not reform the penal code and grant migrants and minorities better legal protection against racism and discrimination.
Some of these important recommendations made by the European Commission include:
- Grant the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman the right to take up discriminatory cases in employment;
- The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman would have the right to take such cases to the courts;
- Increase the capacity of the ombudsman’s staff;
- Empower the National Non-Discrimination and Equality Tribunal to deal with complaints concerning discrimination in employment;
- Collection of hate crime and hate speech data;
- Data would include a system that would be collected on ethnic, religious, gender, and citizenship origin;
- Offer more training to public staff;
- Establish a body that will look at police discrimination, racism, and misconduct.
