The atrocity that struck Christchurch leaving about 50 people dead has its roots in Norway, Oulu and in other places where anti-Muslim hatred was challenged by silence.
An eerie silence has befallen Finland’s biggest Islamophobic mouthpieces: the Perussuomalaiset,* Blue Reform and National Coalition Party.
A tweet by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
There is absolutely nothing except for silence coming from Jussi Halla-aho, Laura Huhtasaari, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Leena Meri, Kike Elomaa, Teuvo Hakkarainen, Petteri Orpo, Kai Mykkänen, Wille Rydman, Antti Hälkkänen, Susana Koski, Sampo Terho, Simon Elo and a long list of other politicians ready to sell their souls in order to get elected in April.
Read original tweet here.
Atrocities such as what happened in New Zealand not only instilled fear in the Muslim community of Finland but is a warning that this will happen again until the media and politicians take a tough stand against Islamophobia.
We need such leadership in Finland today and now.
* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.
A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.