The Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party is known for its hostility and attacks against migrants and minorities as well as anyone who dares call them what they are: a party that peddles racism. In a statement Thursday, the non-discrimination ombudsman, said that the actions of PS Minister of Interior Mari Rantanen were discriminatory when the ministry attempted to favor Christians over Muslims in the quota-refugee scheme.
Non-Discrimination Ombudswoman Kristina Stenman defended the work of her orgnization in Helsingin Sanomat for not only calling out the discriminatory actions of the interior ministry but calling the PS “openly Islamophobic.”
Defending her use of Islamophobia to describe the PS, she said that the party’s immigration policy program states that the present refugee quota system based on the work of the UNHCR “can be phased out, with persecuted Christians and other groups with [so-called] positive integration prospects being slected for the quota.”
Moreover, the party’s program also says that “many of the problems of integration in Finland are linked to the Islamic cultural influence.”
As a result of the report, the PS leadership has gone into their customery victim mode by stating that the statement by the non-discrimination ombudsman was “a shocking attack,” according to Helsingin Sanomat.
Stenman said that the ombudsman report is not an attack against the PS.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen’s and the party’s views of Muslims and other racialized migrants is well documented.
Source: Migrant Tales
In an Interview with the tabloid Iltalehti in 2023, PS chairperson Riikka Purra acknowledged that she aims for zero asylum seekers, like Denmark, from Muslim countries. Speaker of parliament, Jussi Halla-aho, who was convicted for ethnic agitation in 2012, has repeated the same aim.
You would have to be pretty blind not to notice the PS elephant in the room like National Coaltion Party (NCP) Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
Even if it is clear that too many politicians in Finland lack courage to tackle racism, it is positive that some institutions like the non-discrimination ombudsman are doing their job.
