Help the so-called Isis wives and their children return to Finland. Stop the politicking and Islmophobia.

by , under Enrique Tessieri

THIS STORY WAS UPDATED

The ongoing debate in Finland if the so-called Isis wives and their children, who are Finnish citizens, should be given assistance and allowed to return to the country is another example of the former government’s lofty disdain of Muslims, human rights, and the rule of law.

It is shameful that a country like Finland, which stands by its laws and institutions, would put obstacles by prohibiting its own citizens and their children from returning to the country.

Section 9 of the Constitution reads:

“Finnish citizens shall not be prevented from entering Finland or deported or extradited or transferred from Finland to another country against their will.”

The reason some ministers of former Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government (2015-2019) have difficulty grasping Section 9 of the Constitution, is that politics and their prejudices against Muslims get in the way of their good judgement.

Petteri Orpo, the chairperson of the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) tweets: “Finland should not help Isis wives to return. I have no sympathy for them, who left Finland voluntarily to serve in a terrorist organization. The situation of the children is different and should be looked at on a case-by-case bais.”

Sakari Timonen, one of Finland’s most popular bloggers, would put it in the following words: First take away one group’s rights and eventually it will be your group’s turn later.

Orpo is the same politician who was interior minister responsible for tightening immigration policy against asylum seekers, who were mainly Muslims.

He belonged to the same government that wanted to water down civil and human rights even of Finnish citizens. Orpo has led Kokoomus in becoming, after the populist Perussuomalaiset*, the most anti-immigration party in Finland.

We should not be discussing whether a Finnish citizen has the right to assistance and if he or she can return to the country. If a person committed crimes while in Isis, that person should face justice. In our country, everyone is innocent before proven guilty by a court of his/her peers.

Comments by ministers of the former government sound like lynch-mob leaders that want to score the maximum amount of political points.

This is how low some politicians have stooped.