The National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) received a political bomb that exposed the party’s internal strife between its liberal and populist-conservative wing. Kokoomus’ candidate for Helsinki mayor, Kirsi Piha, and Helsinki city councilor Hanna Gullichsen, both party’s liberal wing, announced they would step aside. Piha stated in a blog posting her decision to pull out from
Search Results for: Petteri Orpo
Petteri Orpo’s double hate-crime standards expose political hypocrisy
National Coalition Party chairperson Petteri Orpo tweets that “I condemn the vandalism against the Turku Synagog and I’m satisfied that the Turku city council signed a motion [condemning] what happened.” Orpo’s support is important, but the question that arises from what happened is if there are different scales of importance when it comes to vandalism
NCP’s Petteri Orpo and his infamous xenophobic and anti-immigration statements
Economy Minister Petteri Orpo, who is also the chairperson of the National Coalition Party (NCP), was and is instrumental for having tightened Finland’s immigration policy when he was the interior minister (2015-2016). As a minister in Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, he was instrumental in undermining the rights of asylum seekers and migrant community.
Ministers Petteri Orpo and Kai Mykkänen are geniuses in migrant integration. Not.
As a sociologist and anti-racism activist, I was not surprised by the banality of Finance Minister Petteri Orpo’s and Interior Minister Kai Mykkänen’s model to better integrate migrants and do away with migrant crime. The answer? A test!
Finance Minister Petteri Orpo and his disingenuous statements about racism and bigotry
National Coalition Party (NCP) chairman and Finance Minister Petteri Orpo was quoted as saying on YLE News that he won’t tolerate racist speech. The comment comes after two Perussuomalaiset (PS)* politicians, MP Teuvo Hakkarainen and PS youth leader Sebastian Tynkkynen, are being investigated by the police service for ethnic agitation.
Juha Sipilä and Petteri Orpo: The sad Finnish tale of spineless politicians
In the United States, a lot of Republican politicians who should know better still haven’t withdrawn their support for Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump despite his ultranationalistic, racist and misogynistic comments. The latest row involves Trump insulting the parents of Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim who was killed in Iraq.
Petteri Orpo’s election as the new NCP chairman is a vote in favor of ever-tightening immigration policy and hostility against asylum seekers
National Coalition Party (NCP) Interior Minister Petteri Orpo victory over Alexander Stubb with 441 votes versus the former chairman’s 361 votes was a vote for Finland’s ever-tightening immigration policy and continued hostility against asylum seekers.
The National Coalition Party should stop bullying asylum seekers and migrants
Finance Minister Petteri Orpo and Interior Minister kai Mykkänen reiterated calls for asylum seekers to “integrate” and embrace Finnish values. Mykkänen was quoted as saying in Helsingin Sanomat that there are plans to offer asylum seekers at reception centers courses on Finnish society.
Finnish Interior Minister Paula Risikko vacationing in a war zone
Sira Moksi has made quite a name for herself by drawing cartoons that newspapers wouldn’t publish. In the one below, we see Interior Minister Paula Risikko vacationing in a “safe” country like Iraq or Afghanistan. Where would Interior Minister Permanent Secretary Päivi Nerg vacation? What about the director general of the Finnish Immigration Service, Jaana Vuori? What about Prime Minister Juha Sipilä? President Sauli Niinistö? Finance Minister Petteri Orpo?
Is there such a thing as a “new” and “old” Perussuomalaiset party?
Is there such a thing as a “new” and “old” Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party? If you ask Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and Minister Petteri Orpo there is. But if you are a migrant, asylum seeker or minority in Finland, it’s doubtful that you would make such a difference.
Finland’s PM shows Halla-aho and his “new” far right Perussuomalaiset party the door
It became clear in the afternoon that Halla-aho’s first day as the new chairman of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) ended with Center Party Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and National Coalition Party (NCP) chairperson Petteri Orpo showing the new chairperson the door.
A Finnish government that bolsters anti-immigration populism and nationalism
It’s sad to watch how the present government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä is not only destroying our welfare state but bringing out the worst form of anti-immigration fear and political cowardice. When asked on YLE’s Ykkösaamu talk show about the attacks against asylum reception centers, the only thing Interior Minister Petteri Orpo had to say was that he was “saddened” by such illegal attacks and that the 80-point plan to tighten immigration policy would help calm matters down.
Before asking asylum seekers to respect Finnish laws and culture we should ask if we practice what we preach
Interior Minister Petteri Orpo said that in order to make Finland a more secure place, each asylum seeker will have to sign an agreement that he will not break the law and respect Finnish culture, according to YLE.
Finnish politicians: Leave your “we’re against racism comfort zone” catchphrases and take action!
I read National Coalition Party (NCP) Interior Minister Petteri Orpo’s speech in parliament Wednesday about racism. While we’re moving in some direction on this front there is one factor that takes us off the path: denial.
Finland says yes to Commission refugee scheme but is still wishy-washy about its role in the crisis
While the announcement by Interior Minister Petteri Orpo that Finland will accept 2,400 asylum seekers under a European Commission scheme is a positive step in the right direction, according to YLE in English, what message does it send?
Riikka Purra and the anti-EU PS may be too radical for Finland’s taste
Perussuomalaiset (PS)* chairperson, Riikka Purra, stuck her mouth in her foot at a debate with National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) head Petteri Orpo, when she said that it is still the radical-right party’s long-range aim to leave the EU. “Finnish citizens are not in favor of leaving the EU,” she was quoted as saying in Helsingin
Kokoomus proves it again: racism coupled with nationalism is a good fix before a parliamentary election
Perussouomalaiset (PS)* head Riikka Purra wasn’t the only one overjoyed by the latest Helsingin Sanomat opinion poll, which showed the radical-right party overtaking the Social Democrats to second place after the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus). Behind Purra was Kokoomus chief Petteri Orpo, gleeing. Finns will go to the polls on April 4 to elect 200 MPs. While observers
Sanna Marin: Bravo for stating that the PS is a racist party! Better late than never.
Politicians like Prime Minister Sanna Marin have offered long-overdue leadership when challenging racism in Finnish politics by stating what many know: The Perussuomalaiset (PS)* is a racist party. “Looking at the speeches of individual [PS] MPs, these speeches have been racist and genuinely hostile to certain minorities,” said Marin in a debate with Petteri Orpo,
Reija Härkönen: Onko Suomi nyt lännessä ja Halla-aho tehnyt parannuksen?
Kun Suomi jätti Nato-hakemuksen, monet riemuitsivat, että Suomi kuuluu vihdoin länteen. Tuollainen riemu oli mielenkiintoista senkin vuoksi, kun edelleen kovasti odotellaan, että Turkin sulho vastaisi myöntävästi kosintaan. Tekeekö liittolaissuhde Turkkiin meistä entistä länsimaalaisempia. Olemmeko nyt lännessä? Perussuomalaisten Jussi Halla-ahoa haastateltiin elokuussa 2019 hänen suhtautumisestaan siihen, että Unkaria on vaadittu palaamaan ruotuun ja tunnustamaan EU:n yhteiset arvot ja
Migrant Tales Media Monitoring: Yle spikes it up with parties that promote fear and uses their xenophobic labels
Yle’s reported Tuesday building a border fence between Finland and Russia. Reporting from Estonia’s capital Tallinn, Yle reporter Rain Kooli said that the wall between Estonia and Russia was to stop migrants – not asylum seekers – and illegal migrants. The project, which the Finnish Border Guard is spearheading, will cost hundreds of millions of
MT Media Monitoring: A government partnership between Kokoomus and the PS would be a hammer blow to us
Politicians and parties expel a lot of blah blah. Ask this question: Will matters improve for Finland’s racialized communities if the PS and Kokoomus partner in a government? There’s your answer with no blah blah. A recent story by MTV, a private television channel with a streak of Fox News, published a story about what
Avoid turning Finland into a United States
In a thousand years, if there’s History, America will be remembered as a nasty little Country. Full of Pricks… Allen Ginsberg, Epilogue from “The Fall of America poems of these states 1965-1971” Following the dysfunctionality and cultural war raging in US politics, any sensible person can conclude that the present situation is due to several
What’s all the commotion about Wille Rydman? Why is Kokoomus now shocked?
A big question remains after a Helsingin Sanomat investigative journalism piece exposed how National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) MP Wille Rydman treated women – even underaged ones – inappropriately. Some of these women, who were minors then, claimed that Rydman forced them to drink alcohol. A question remains: Why does Kokoomus appear so shocked today, even after the
Our willingness to help “women and children” Ukrainian refugees is code for anti-Muslim racism
Think about it. Finland’s far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party has had a total change of heart about refugees, which it has attacked and fed its popularity. Not only the PS, but other parties like the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), Center Party, and a “taxi party” Liike Nyt, according to Yle. A taxi party is one where
Exposing white Finnish privilege #82: Good “refugees” are white and Christian, “bad” ones are Muslims
In light of the Russian invasion and bloodshed in Ukraine, Finland has expressed its readiness to take in “tens of thousands” of “refugees” from that country, according to Yle. Remember last year, when Poland closed its border with Belarus over mostly Iraqis seeking asylum in the EU? Remember the calls to keep out such asylum
Reija Härkönen: Pakolainen on päästettävä pannasta
Suomen rasistisella kansalla on suuria vaikeuksia sanojen kanssa. Yle vaihtoi jo kauan sitten termin ”pakolainen” termiin ”siirtolainen”. Tällä pyritään etäännyttämään kansalaisia ihmisten hädästä ja ajattelemaan, niin kuin korkein valtionjohto toivoo: heillä saattaa olla ”pahat mielessä” tai niin kuin tasavallan presidentti puheessaan valtiopäivien avajaisissa ilmaisi: ”Viime vuosina turvallisuusympäristössä on nähty uusia ilmiöitä, jotka antavat aihetta valmiutemme
If Finland believes in its laws, it must give residence permits to undocumented migrants
The ministry of interior published on Thursday its recommendations on what to do with some 3,000 undocumented migrants who came to Finland in 2015-2016. Of this group, about 300 are children living in legal limbo thanks to a 2016 law that abolished granting residence permits on humanitarian grounds. The number of undocumented migrants rose from
Kokoomus’ and Finland’s downward spiral
The last opinion poll published by Helsingin Sanomat doesn’t show us any big surprises. A few percentage-point fractions up or down and, end of story. If, however, we take a longer view, the situation of the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) raises some questions. Just like Jutta Urpilainen and the Social Democrats learned before the 2011
Hall of Shame: Finland’s 2020 Islamophobic and Afrophobic network
Choosing the key figures in the Islamophobic and Afrophobic Hall of Shame wasn’t difficult even during a year ravaged by Covid-19. The task was to choose the most obvious culprits and other ones in the media that fuel and maintain such a toxic environment. In putting together this year’s Hall of Shame, I was quickly
Mayday, Mayday! Two women and six children entering Finland
Following on and off news about the repatriation of Finnish citizens from the al-Hol refugee camp raises a lot of questions about our society. The opposition, namely the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and National Coalition Party (NCP), are working overtime to score brownie points with the voters and fearmongering. The commotion is now stirred by the repatriation
Finland’s Islamophobic party, the PS, is a huge fan of Donald Trump and authoritarianism
THE STORY WAS UPDATED There is one clear message from the tweets and picture below with Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MPs Jussi Halla-aho, Mike Niikko, Vilhelm Junnila and Veikko Vallin: THEY LOVE TRUMP. How could the PS fall for a man like outgoing US President Donald Trump who has no respect for the rule of law (unless
Fears of a coronavirus outbreak at Espoo’s Nihtisilta reception center
MTV published today the dire situation of refugees at the Luona-managed Nihtisilta reception center in Espoo. An anonymous Iraqi asylum seeker said there is no soap to wash there hands, and there is a lot of concern about coronavirus spreading. Migrant Tales got in touch with an asylum reception center resident in Espoo who confirmed
The PS’ and Jussi Halla-aho’s “circus” tour continues after fascist Toni Jalonen resigns as PS Youth vice president
THIS POST WAS UPDATED Some may believe that the big news from the weekend is that the former second vice president of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Youth, Toni Jalonen, admitted publicly to being “an ethnonationalist, traditionalist, and a fascist.” Reaction to what Jalonen affirmed came fast and hard after it hit social media. National Coalition Party
(Migrant Tales 14.12.2015): How long will reception centers and asylum seekers be under attack in Finland?
Migrant Tales insight: Remember 2015? It was the year when over 30,000 asylum seekers, mainly from Iraq and Afghanistan, came to Finland. Do you remember the reaction of some Finns who attacked fourteen asylum reception centers? Why weren’t these acts of violence classified as domestic terrorism? This disgraceful story is dedicated to Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Ano
The Finnish police, politicians and the media live in deep denial about the threat of far-right ideologies
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the Soldiers of Odin, a far-right group with close ties with neo-Nazis. When they appeared, the media seemed to be amazed and swept off its feet, while the police played down the problem, just like the previous government did. Just like in the Oulu sexual assault cases,
QUOTE OF THE DAY (Toni Morrison): “What are you without racism?”
THIS STORY WAS UPDATED Dedicated to the racist politicians, political parties and groups in Finland. And let’s be clear. I am talking about the Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), Christian Democrats, neo-Nazi groups and websites like Hommaforum. Some politicians that come to mind are Jussi Halla-aho, Riikka Purra, Ville Tavio, Matias Turkkila, Ano Turtiainen,
Päivän sitaatti (Pääministeri Sanna Marin): Mitä kokoomuksen pitäisi hävetä
Tänään Ykkösaamussa haastattelussa kysyttiin uudestaan pääministeri Sanna Marinin mitä kokoomuksen pitäisi hävetä. “Mielestäni kahta asiaa. Ensinnäkin sitä, että kokoomuksen puheenjohtaja Petteri Orpo on sanonut, että näitä (al-Holin suomalaisia) lapsia ei pidä auttaa, jos se tarkoittaa näiden äitien auttamista. Hallituksen linja lähtee siitä, että nämä lapset, joista monet ovat alle viisivuotiaita, taaperoita, päiväkoti-ikäisiä lapsia, heitä pitää auttaa, lapsen
Yhteiseen hyvään pyrkivä politiikka on parasta taistelua pahaa vastaan
Donald Tusk, joka valittiin Euroopan suurimman puolueen, keskusta-oikeistolaisen EEP:n puheenjohtajaksi, piti toivoa herättävän avauspuheenvuoron taistelusta äärioikeistolaisia voimia vastaan: ”Me emme uhraa arvojamme, ihmisoikeuksia, oikeusvaltioperiaatteita emmekä sivistystä vastalahjaksi turvallisuudesta ja järjestyksestä. Siihen ei ole tarvetta, koska ne eivät sulje toisiaan pois. Se, joka ei voi tätä hyväksyä, ei voi myöskään kuulua tähän perheeseen.” Toivottavasti EEP löytää
The Soldiers of Odin threaten to take over and defend by force the northern Finnish border checkpoint of Tornio
The head of the far-right Nazi-spirited vigilante group Soldiers of Odin, Mika Ranta, threatened in a statement to take over the Tornio border checkpoint and defend it by force if the Swedish authorities let in asylum seekers as in 2015. Center Party MP Mikko Kärnä states in the Center Party newspaper Suomenmaa that he has
Hate speech study and story by Yle: Interviewing the wolf guarding the sheep
Ovem lupo commitere. The saying in Latin, To set a wolf to guard sheep, raises the right question about a YLE news story on a hate speech study and how it intimidates politicians from expressing their opinions. The study reveals that 75% of the messages come from anti-immigration groups, with the rest coming from left-liberal
Help the so-called Isis wives and their children return to Finland. Stop the politicking and Islmophobia.
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
Finland should put aside its racism, prejudices, hypocrisy and challenge seriously social ills like pedophilia and sexaual abuse
The lifesaver that was supposed to propel the Perussuomalaiset* (PS) to new heights in the polls, suffered another setback Wednesday when the National Bureau of Investigations arrested five white Finnish suspects implicated in violent child sexual abuse. The other blows that stole their Islamophobic thunder were the senior care and the Christchurch atrocity.
Attacks against Soini, Ahmed and the Muslim community of Finland are symptoms of our silence
What do the attacks against Blue Reform Foreign Minister Timo Soini in Vantaa Sunday and today against Left Alliance MP candidate Suldaan Said Ahmed tell us about today’s Finland? They tell us of a country that has been asleep to the threat of far-right extremism, Islamophobia and other forms of racism and hate speech.
Once again politicians and the media show no leadership about the terrorist attack in New Zealand
The atrocity we witnessed through the media of the cold-blooded and calculated killings that left so far 49 dead and many wounded in New Zealand were not mentioned once by some ministers on Facebook. These ministers are the ones who have fueled and nurtured Finland’s hostile environment against Muslims and migrants. Moreover, how many editorials were written in the Finnish media about what happened and how it is a warning to us too?
The price of hate and words have consequences: What goes round comes around
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.
Count to ten when people talk about migrants “embracing Finnish values”
I will count to ten very slowly if I hear one more time, just one more time from a politician, that migrants should embrace Finnish values. Most of them, when they make that ethnocentric statement, don’t tell us never mind give us a clue what those “Finnish values” are. Do they even know?
After the Perussuomalaiset-Blue Reform, the National Coalition Party is the most anti-immigration party in the Finnish parliament
If you ask anyone in Finland which party thrives on anti-immigration sentiment and bigotry, the answer is simple: Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and Blue Reform. The difference between these two is that the former is a racist party that came out of the closet and the latter one which went back to the closet. Here’s the question:
We have only to blame ourselves for the rise of vigilante gangs, racism and fascism in Finland
Shortly, we’ll look at this period as the
Harvinaista, poikkeuksellista ja aivan turhaa
Iltasanomat 29.11.2015 Ote eduskuntapuoluiden johtajien poikkeuksellisesta vetoomuksesta 29.11.2015 Kaikkien pitää noudattaa Suomen lainsäädäntöä. Laki on sama kaikille. Suomessa järjestyksenpito ja rikosten selvittäminen kuuluu poliisille. Oikeuslaitoksen tehtävä on tuomita rikoksiin syyllistyneet. Joidenkin kantaväestöön kuuluvien vastaanottokeskuksiin kohdistamat väkivaltaiset iskut ovat vakavia rikoksia. Myös joidenkin turvapaikanhakijoiden epäillään syyllistyneen erittäin vakaviin rikoksiin. Rikokset ovat yhtä lailla tuomittavia, ovat ne
The Finnish media gives a lot of space to Halla-aho and the PS but none to us
It’s clear that the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* is a different party after this weekend, when Jussi Halla-aho, Laura Huhtasaari, Teuvo Hakkarainen and Juho Eerola were elected to lead the anti-immigrant and anti-EU party. Halla-aho spoke of in his policy speech of “nationalistic forces,” which is code for anti-immigration, anti-cultural diversity and anti-EU policies.
Jussi Halla-aho elected PS chairman. What happens next and will the party remain in government?
While it’s no surprise that Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Jussi Halla-aho was the clear winter against Sampo Terho 949 votes against 629, the big question is how the PS’ government coalition partners Center Party and National Coalition Party (NCP) will digest Halla-aho’s victory.
Why did Finland allocate so much money on asylum reception centers that treated in too many cases refugees like “livestock?”
In 2015 and 2016 some 38,000 asylum seekers came to Finland and scores of asylum reception centers were established rapidly throughout the country to house so many people. Even if the government’s ever-draconian view of migrants was “not make Finland attractive to asylum seekers” at any cost, asylum seekers helped expose our ineffective immigration and integration policy.
Finnish government party Perussuomalaiset MEP claims ethnic profiling needed to fight terrorism
Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MEP Jussi Halla-aho, who hungers for public attention, tries to surprise us with the following suggestion: The police should be allowed to ethnically profile Middle Easterners, North African and Central Asian people irrespective if it is in infringement of these people’s fundamental rights and human rights.
The government of Juha Sipilä has failed with flying colors on its strategy to contain the rise of racism in Finland
There has been an interesting debate on hate crime in Finland. If we’d believe the government, hate crime and racism in Finland are a far-right phenomenon and of a few racist hotheads.
Suomen hallitus ei ole vilpitön rasismin, uusfasismin ja väkivallan vastustamisessaan
Suomen hallitus ei ole tähän mennessä julkisesti ollut kovin rasistinen, vaikka hallituspuolueiden jäsenet ja äänestäjät sitä ovatkin. Vielä viime vuonna sisäministeri Petteri Orpo asettui Helsingin Sanomissa selkein sanoin perussuomalaisten rasismia vastaan: Tänä vuonna, kun Petteri Orpon olisi natsijärjestön jäsenen tekemän kuolemaan johtaneen pahoinpitelyn jälkitunnelmissa pitänyt, valtiovarainministerin arvovallan pönkittämänä, olla sanoissaan vielä selkeämpi, hän veti hyvin
Where should we go after Saturday’s Stop this Game! demonstration?
I really would have wanted to join you in the Stop this Game! demonstration Saturday but I was attending a European Network Against Racism (ENAR) board meeting in Brussels that looked at the very challenges that were raised at yesterday’s event.
Stop this Game! demonstration exposes the disingenuousness of Juha Sipilä’s government
Today Finland will see one of its biggest-ever demonstrations against racism. The last time this Rosa Parks moment, which could be christened the Jimi Joonas Kartturnen moment, to respect his bravery to stand up against far-right racist ideology, was in July 2015.
Connect the dots between the Perussuomalaiset, a government party, and Neo-Nazis and other far-right groups
Taking into account all the debate and pouring of outrage, some fake, some honest, at what happened last week, when a Neo-Nazi Kansallinen Vastarinta (SVL) member provoked the death of Jimi Joonas Karttunen, I am a bit worried about how we are taking our eye off the ball.
Suomen ilmapiirin parantamiseksi tarvitaan järjestäytyneestä rasismista luopumista
Väkivaltaisten rasististen ja fasististen järjestöjen lakkauttamisesta on vihdoinkin alettu keskustella. SVL:n (Suomen Vastarintaliikkeen) toiminta on selkeästi lainvastaista ja on siis kiellettävä. Mutta on todettava, että se ei pysäytä rasismin ja väkivallan etenemistä Suomessa. Se ei pysähdy ennen kuin meillä on hallitus, joka ei salli tai jopa suosi rasismia ja väkivaltaa. Kaikenlaiselle rasistiselle toiminnalle Suomessa on
Our new message to the world: Finland doesn’t like you so don’t even think of moving here!
It’s clear that the government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä doesn’t like asylum seekers never mind cultural diversity. In the last few months, we’ve seen a tightening of immigration policy by the government, which sends out a clear message to would-be asylum seekers and migrants: Don’t even think of moving here!
A belated response to racist comments by a member of the PS is half a response
Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party has been (surprise, surprise) in the past two weeks on the racist rampage against migrants and minorities. The first one was lodged on July 15 by PS MP Teuvo Hakkarainen, who suggested that Muslims should be kicked out of Finland, followed by comments by Matias Turkkila (17.7), PS Youth leader Sebastian Tynkkynen, who parrots Hakkarainen’s call on July 19.
Tango with the Perussuomalaiset party of Finland and you’ll let loose an ogre
Brexit is not only a good example that if you stoke the fires of nationalism you’ll get burned but if you try to play the same game as these populist anti-immigration groups you’ll lose. This is what happened to former Prime Minister David Cameron and the United Kingdom.
Oikeus elää – A Right to live الحق للعيش demonstration tomorrow at 4:00 pm in Helsinki (Narikkantori, Kamppi)
The Finnish government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä has done everything possible to make asylum seekers feel unwelcome in Finland. On Friday, they tightened family reunification guidelines and recently did away with giving residence permits on humanitarian grounds.
Saido Mohamed defects to the Greens, cites differences over ever-tightening immigration policy
Saido Mohamed, who is no stranger to Migrant Tales, has defected from the National Coalition Party (NCP) to the Greens, according to YLE.
The foreign minister of an island called Finland
Finnish foreign minister, Timo Soini of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, was on the Embuske, Veitola ja Salminen talkshow on Thursday. On the program he showed his bigotted views with a smile by taking credit for stopping the flow of asylum seekers to Finland.
The anti-immigration narrative of politicians, the police and President Sauli Niinistö is no mistake
From the fall we have heard the police service, politicians, government ministers, the media and recently the head of state of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, give statements that bolster racist and far-right ideology that label and victimize asylum seekers, migrants, and minorities in this country.
Finnish police service claims that sexual harassment is new in Finland’s sexual crime history
Finnish deputy chief of police of Helsinki, Ilkka Koskimäki, is the latest representative of the police service whose statements have left people scratching their heads. He’s quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph: “This phenomenon [sexual harassment] is new in Finnish sexual crime history. We have never before had this kind of sexual harassment happening at
Vigilante gangs, the Finnish police service and our denial of racism
The big news story in Finland today is street patrols by xenophobic, far-right and neo-Nazi groups. That’s not all. Some of the members of these patrol gangs have criminal records.
UPDATED: How long will reception centers and asylum seekers be under attack in Finland?
The fact that fourteen asylum reception centers that have been attacked in Finland since mid-September is shameful. According to the police service of Kangasala, an asylum seeker was beaten by two or three men Saturday evening near the Kaivanto reception center, reports YLE News.
Terrorism ironically exposes the lies of Islamophobic politicians and parties
The closer terrorist acts hit us like the tragedy that befell Paris on Friday, the fewer the arguments nationalist-populist groups have to defend their xenophobia. Most of these types of politicians in Finland prefer to hang low after the terror attacks.
When Supo labels all asylum seekers and migrants in Finland
Finnish security intelligence police Supo head Antti Peltari claimed at a press conference Tuesday that there are two terror threats that the country faces: the rise of refugee links to terrorist groups and hate crimes linked to neo-Nazi groups, according to YLE News.
Finnish government and the PS: Kid gloves and wishy-washy statements on asylum seekers and racism
There are a number of demonstrations planned today demanding that Finland shut its border to asylum seekers. What may surprise some is that the Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, a party sharing power in government, is organizing some of these demonstrations like the one in Tornio, a town located next to the Swedish border, according to tabloid Iltalehti.
Saido Mohamed: How much good will is there in Finland for asylum seekers?
In the early 1990s Finland was in the midst of one of its worst recessions in a century, when unemployment rocketed to about 20%. The number of migrants back then was relatively small totaling in 1992 a mere 37,642 and accounting for only 0.7% of the total population.
Sweden’s election and UK PM Liz Truss’ demise are a warning to Finland’s National Coalition Party
Populism is a good way to win elections but an impossible way to govern. Eugene Robinson How far will right-wing parties like the Moderate Party of Sweden go to make a pact with their political devils? How much populism and empty nationalism led to the demise of UK Prime Minister Liz Truss? These are valid
Kotoutuminen #10: Misleading expectations that will keep you (dis)integrated
Many, if not most migrants who have moved to Finland, have heard the following claim: Learn the language, and presto you are integrated. While learning the language of your new homeland helps, it is only one of many things that will help you adapt to society. Erna Bödström’s dissertation, “Welcome to Fantasy Finland,” points out
Kotoutuminen* #2: A tool of white fragility to rule you
Migrant Tales launches a new series called kotoutuminen, or integration. Readers are encouraged to send their personal experiences, comments on integration programs, and policies. Send your comments and observations to [email protected] KOTOUTUMINEN #2 Kotoutuminen, or integration, functions in many ways like white fragility. It is a weapon and tool to subjugate newcomers and migrants who
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Teaching integration or institutional racism?
Finland puts a lot of effort into its integration program. Earlier this year, with the sexual assault cases in Oulu, we saw the then government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä blame asylum seekers for not integrating and that our integration problem was a failure. All of these accusations had one matter in mind for then
Eikö Suomessa ole pahaa populismia?
Jyrki Katainen esiintyi eilisen A-studion videohaastattelussa hyvin ja jämäkästi melkein loppuun saakka. Jo matkalla kävi kuitenkin ilmi, että se lopullinen rohkeus puuttuu: pahaa populismia on vain Euroopassa. Kun suomalainen puhuu Euroopasta, se tarkoittaa yhä sitä, että Suomea se ei koske. Puheensa lopuksi Katainen sitten jo tuhrasi kaiken sen ryhdin ja moraalin, jota hän koitti osoittaa.
Two words that shed light on what the Perussuomalaiset party is: racist bravado
If there would be two words that define what the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party is all about, it would racist bravado. By the way, the PS is no common racist party but a member of the government. It shares power with the Center Party and National Coalition Party, which usually look the other way when the PS has one of its racist fits.
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