The Tapanila rape case is a good example of how the Finnish media permitted again its prejudices to get the better of itself. Those who committed the crime had everything against them: They were “Somalis,” or youths with “foreign backgrounds,” who committed “gang rape.” In today’s Finland, where xenophobia is thick in the air, those two words are sure to unlock your darkest prejudices.
Search Results for: Tapanila
Epic failure of the Finnish media in reporting the impact of the Tapanila sexual assault case
The theory that immigration is responsible for crime, that the most recent “wave of immigration,” whatever the nationality, is less desirable than the old ones, that all newcomers should be regarded with an attitude of suspicion, is a theory that is almost as old as the colonies planted by Englishmen on the New England coast.
Tärkeä kysymys vailla vastausta: Olivatko Tapanilan joukkoraiskauksesta epäillyt suomalaisia?
Tapanilan joukkoraiskaustapaus on järkyttänyt monet mutta samalla se on tuonut ilmi ikäviä yhteiskunnialisiä asioita kuten välipitämättömyys sekä rasismi. Keskustelu on jyrännyt eteenpäin valtamedian ja sosiaalimedian avulla. Ihmisten voimakas reaktio sosiaalimediassa ei ole yllättävä, koska yksi Tapanilan joukkoraikkaustapauksen tarkoitus on todennäköisesti ollut vahvistaa meidän ennakkoluuloja toisista ja vahvistaa “me” “heidän” kustannuksella. Erittäin tärkeä kysymys on uhrin
The question that everyone forgot to ask: Are the Tapanila sexual assault suspects Finns?
The Tapanila gang sexual assault case last week revealed a lot of ugly things about our society like our lack of willingness to help people in distress, and racism. The debate has raged on with the media and social media leading the charge. The violent reaction we have seen on social media to what happened
Tapanila sexual assault in Finland sends a disturbing signal about our society
Something terrible happened on Monday night after 9pm at the Tapanila train station of northern Helsinki. A group of 15-18-year-olds were reportedly harassing a young woman on a train, who was later sexually assaulted by the same suspects outside the station, according to Helsingin Sanomat. No respectable news organization or police force with integrity should
STATEMENT: Yle should stop picking on minority youths and stick to facts
It was in 2020 when Helsingin Sanomat published a big story about the dangers of youth gang violence in Helsinki. The story received a lot of criticism because it spread the misinformation that youth crime is rising in Helsinki and Greater Helsinki. It isn’t surprising that the state-owned broadcaster, Yle, has spread the issue, especially
Migrant Tales Media Monitoring: An Helsingin Sanomat editorial that boosts xenophobia
There is a lot of talk and unfortunate examples of how the media helps to spread populist parties’ hateful messages about migrants and minorities. An editorial published by Helsingin Sanomat Thursday is a good example of how the media does this. The good showing of the Sweden Democrats in September’s parliamentary election is due to
The PS’ and Kokoomus’ “concern” about Finland’s minority youth gangs is dishonest and a political stunt
Watching weekly Thursday’s question-and-answer session between the opposition and government can cause nausea. With parliamentary elections six months in April, expect opposition parties like the far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) to increase their attacks against ALL migrants. The truth about the PS and Kokoomus, the biggest and second-biggest opposition party, respectively, is
Helsingin Sanomat editorial and the real reason why the Perussuomalaiset do well in parliamentary elections
A short editorial by Helsingin Sanomat Thursday warns that the 1.3 percentage point rise in the recent opinion poll of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party may force other parties to latch on to Islamophobic rhetoric. The PS’ pet themes today are high electricity and gas prices at the pumps and others, which it did not specify. Even if
Keep it up, Riikka Purra, don’t stop now. Kick out all the migrants and “let God sort ’em out.”
There are a lot of baffled faces at the far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party. “Did you see our regional election result?!” one asks while the other states: “A Yle poll saw us nosedive by 3.3 percentage points to 15%. and now Helsingin Sanomat reinforces the latter.” In our opinion, the PS is a far-right party that
Islamophobe warning: Look out for the “Arab-looking” and “bearded minor!”
THE STORY WAS UPDATED On Friday, we read about an assault against a Perussuomalaiset (PS) politician in Jämsänkoski. Pekka Kataja, who was rushed to the hospital to treat his head wounds, broken ribs, and a concussion. The PS politician, who has made a name thanks to his anti-Muslim opinions, claims that the men who attacked
Kuka levittää valeuutisia maahanmuuttajista?
Ylikomisario Jari Taponen sai aikamoinen myrskyn aikaan kun hän twittasi seuraavasti: Tässä on yksi ihmeellisimpiä lehtikirjoituksia jonka olen nähnyt. Tehdään juttu rikoksesta jota ei ole tapahtunut. Kuka levittää valeuutisia maahanmuuttajista ja turvapaikanhakijoista? Olennainen kysymys on miksi he levittävät valetietoa? Jos katsotaan tietyt ryhmät kuten Perussuomalaiset, valetieto ja pelonlietsonta houkuttelevat äänestäjät. Kaikki eduskuntavaaleissa jossa Perussuomalaiset ovat
Perussuomalaiset support heads south
There was good news if you are against us-and-them rhetoric, Islamophobia, and support for US President Donald Trump’s policies and persona. A poll published Thursday by Yle showed that the southward direction of the Perussuomalaiaset (PS)* party continued to head south. Compared with a similar poll on December 9, 2019-January 8, 2020, support for the
What political capital will the Finnish far-right Perussuomalaiset party gain from Oulu?
The Perussuomalaiset (PS)* is the first modern Finnish party to capitalize politically on Finland’s Islamophobic and anti-immigration sentiment. With parliamentary elections around the corner on April 14, the question is if the PS will get a boost from the sexual assault cases of Oulu?
The wise tales of Uncle Toms and the unbalanced reporting by the Finnish media
Tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, which was complicit in the early 1990s of spreading racism wholesale in Finland, hasn’t yet apologized for its reporting about groups like the Somalis. In an interview with a Kurdish Islamophobe, Sheida Sohrabi, Ilta-Sanomat signals that it will never apologize for its shoddy and one-sided reporting.
Pressiklubi gives simplistic, apologetic view on how the Finnish media is “more balanced” today when writing about non-white Finns
It is surprising to hear how some politicians and journalists continue to have simplistic and apologetic views of racism and bigotry in this country. If YLE’s Päivi Happonen and Atte Kaleva’s words are to be believed on Pressiklubi, the Finnish media has finally woken up and writes more balanced stories about migrants and minorities that live in Finland.
Finding help if you are a victim of a hate crime is difficult in Finland
There was a horrible attack against a Pakistani father of two over on February 23. Just to get an idea of the wounds he sustained on that terrible night, it took last week four hours to remove his stitches.
Defining white Finnish privilege #32: The white Finnish police service and “them”
If there is an institution that is the epitome of white Finnish privilege that is doing everything possible to hinder cultural and ethnic diversity among its ranks, that institution is the Finnish police service.
Who determines who we are?
Here’s a simple question: By law, a person is a Finn if he or she is a Finnish citizen. Why, then, are some of these Finnish citizens spoken of and near-constantly reminded by society that they are so-called “people with foreign backgrounds?”
Savon Sanomat: Kuka määrää, keitä me olemme?
Tässä on yksinkertainen kysymys: virallisesti ihminen määritellään suomalaiseksi, jos hän on Suomen kansalainen. Jos hänellä on kansallisuus, miksi jatkuvasti muistutetaan, että hän on ”ulkomaalaistaustainen”?
Is this an example of how racism appears in the Finnish media?
I couldn’t believe me eyes when I read the following headline today: “The much-feared rape wave [by asylum seekers] didn’t happen, police confirm.”
Finland’s bigoted and perilous path
Finland has become in a short time a country that has lost its way. The police service, public officials like politicians and even ministers, who should know better, don’t. The most shameful matter that exposes these wretched times is that we’ve allowed xenophobia and nationalist populism to not only enter through the back door but through the main and wide one as well.
Why do the police identify Others as “person with migrant background” even if this is confusing, even illegal?
The tabloid story below picked up by Koko Hubara on her Facebook wall is an excellent example of how the define ethnicity and race. The police service is one of the most eager institutions in this country when it comes to labeling who are real Finns and who are not.
Neo-Nazi group now claims to carry out street patrols in as many as eleven Finnish cities
Neo-Nazi groups like Suomen Vastarintaliike (SVL) and the Solidiers of Odin are carrying out street patrols in eleven Finnish cities, reports Pori-based daily Satakunnan Kansa. Migrant Tales reported Saturday that SVL started street patrols in Pori, which have now expanded to three neighborhoods.
Every suspected rape in Finland brings out the bigot from within
Every suspected rape committed by a foreigner is a threat to the migrant and visible minority community because it gives a boost to bigots and racists in Finland. It is also a perfect example of how a social media lynching takes place in Finland and how it boosts parties like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, which base their popularity on anti-cultural diversity rhetoric.
The Perussuomalaiset of Finland: Labeling and victimizing migrants for political profit
The latest poll results, which showed support for the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* nosedive by a record 7 percentage points from April to 10.7%, not only means turbulent times for the government but especially for migrants and minorities in Finland.
Naisen alistaminen tapahtuu eri kulttuureissa eri tavoin
Tässä ei ole mediaseksikästä otsikkoa eikä nokkelaa sanailua, vaan asiaa, joka koskettaa jokaista naista tavalla tai toisella jossain vaiheessa naisen elämää. Media on hehkutellut koko kevään Tapanilan maahanmuuttaja – raiskauksilla ja nyt viimeisimpänä kunniaväkivallan pöytään nostamalla. Naisiin kohdistuva väkivalta on vedetty islamofobiseen ja maahanmuuttajavastaisen väliseen kamppailuun. Kiivaimmin naisen alistamiseen ovat puuttumassa suomiuroot, joita en sitten
There is no market for an anti-Muslim repellent in Finland
Helsinki substitute councilman, Olli Sademies, the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* Helsinki substitute councilman who wrote that African men should be sterilized in Finland after having three children, now states that his so-called Muslim spray repellent is for rapists.
Reija Härkönen: Suomen pojat, muistakaa!
Suomen isät ja äidit, koittakaa nyt pitää tarkka huoli murrosikäisistä pojistanne ja heidän kasvustaan miehiksi. Kansanedustajien nettikeskusteluista päätellen toilailut tyttöjen kanssa, tyttöjen joukkohäirintä ja seksuaalinen ahdistelu eivät tästedes kenties johda pelkästään ehdottomaan vankeusrangaistukseen, vaan myös maastakarkoitukseen tai kansantuomioistuimen teloitukseen.
How can we deal with serious social issues like rape in a country like Finland that has issues with racism?
Veronica Honkasalo is a Helsinki city councilwoman for the Left Alliance tweeted the following below about the sentence that three suspects got in the northern Helsinki Tapanila rape case of March: “It’s clear that the sexual offense sentence [that the three suspects] got was too light. There aren’t any light rapes but keep it clear of racism.”
Two important questions I’d ask incoming PS minister of justice and employment
It should be clear by know through countless examples that the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* intentionally make outrageous statements in order to get media attention for the party and themselves. The new PS justice and employment minister, Jari Lindström, stated a while back that he’d be in favor of reinstating the death penalty in “some circumstances,” according to YLE in English. On Tuesday we learned about PS subsitute councilman Olli Sademies’ opinions about forced sterilization of African refugees.
Systemic racism in Finland
A video clip below by Jay Smooth published by Race Forward gives us simple good examples of how systemic or institutional racism occurs in the United States. Is systemic racism a problem in Finland? If so, how and where does it occur?
UPDATE (May 5): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism
Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link.
Straight A students in racism and the rise of xenophobia in Finland
You may be wondering why xenophobia has raised its head big time in Finland these past years and why candidates from parties like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* get elected on such a platform. The Facebook post below that sources a false story about migrants called MV, Mitä v****a! or What the f**k!, offers an answer. The
Reija Härkönen: Nyt saa loppua persujen paijaus!
Reija Härkönen Enpä olisi uskonut tätä päivää näkeväni: varteenotettavat suomalaiset puolueet miettivät tosissaan, millä tavalla tekisivät hallitusyhteistyötä rasistipuolueen kanssa. Jos hallitukseen nousee rasistista, ihmisten yhtäläisen arvon kieltävää ohjelmaa ajava puolue, koko hallitus on silloin mukana edesauttamassa tuon puolueen agendaa, riippumatta siitä, millainen varsinainen hallitusohjelma on. Ruotsissa pidetään perussuomalaisten mahdollista hallitukseen ottoa historiallisena virheenä. Suomen media
UPDATE (Apr. 22): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism
Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link. Apr. 22 Tapanilan joukkoraiskauksesta syytteet viidelle (YLE) What’s wrong with this story? The news story by YLE on sentencing five youths with so-called “foreign backgrounds” is an
Finland elections send a worrisome message of petty provincialism, anti-immigration, anti-Islam and anti-Other
Of the top 12 anti-immigration candidates below, only one didn’t get reelected: National Coalition Party’s Pia Kauma (UPDATED) and James Hirvisaari of Muutos 2011. While this is a small consolation in the face of the success of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party on Sunday, the big question is if this populist anti-immigration party will form part of the
Finland’s scapegoating culture and climate
A good example of Finland’s xenophobic climate is a citizens’ initiative that would hasten the deportation of sentenced foreigners, according to YLE in English. The minimum number of signatures required for such initiatives to be debated and voted on in parliament is 50,000. On Wednesday morning the citizens’ initiative had 52,037 signatures.
Defining white Finnish privilege #21: Who can be a Finn?
A Finn is anyone with Finnish citizenship, right? Citizenship can be obtained through birth (jus sanguinis) or naturalization. Even if this should be clear as day, certain public services like the police continue to group Finns according to their so-called “foreign” or “immigrant” backgrounds. I don’t have any problems with my foreign background even if
Defining white Finnish privilege #20: Labeling Others to strengthen “us” and “them”
There were two news stories where the term “person with foreign background” was used by the media this week. The first case was reported on Wednesday, when two people with ”foreign backgrounds” were attacked in Joensuu and the second one a day later, when a suspected Finnish man who tried drive over a fifteen-year-old ”with
Defining white Finnish privilege #19: My rape statistics about your group
Migrant Tales has followed migrant rape statistic stories for some time. You should always treat them with tweezers when two matters appear: The news story only cites percentages, not numbers The percentages are used to label all migrants, especially some groups. Most of the stories written about migrant rape cases in Finland fit these two characteristics
UPDATE (Mar. 17): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism
Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link.
What’s the difference between a migrant rapist and a white Finnish rapist?
Any sensible person condemns what happened on Monday, when a woman was gang raped by a group of teenagers in the northern Helsinki neighborhood of Tapanila. Some voices, notably the most anti-immigration voices, are demanding an apology from the Somali community. One Somali woman, Ujuni Ahmed, apologized on behalf of the whole community on Helsingin Sanomat
Defining white Finnish privilege #18: Labeling others according to your prejudices
White Finnish privilege gives the right to label others according to the group’s prejudices. The terrible gang rape on Monday and the reaction of the media and police, reveal that white Finnish privilege and labeling minorities to suit one’s prejudices are alive and kicking in this country. The police call those who aren’t white Finns “people
Using the term “immigrant background” in a bigoted country
In a country like Finland, where even politicians can make political careers with their bigotry, what impact does the label “immigrant background” have in reinforcing intolerance and prejudices? This question is an important one because, like racism, the label rarely if ever affects white Finns. The tragic rape of a woman this week by a group
UPDATE (Mar. 13): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism
Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link. Mar. 13 Raiskauksia paljastuu aiempaa enemmän – joka kolmas tuomittu ulkomaalaistaustainen or Raiskauksia paljastuu aiempaa enemmän – Tapanilan joukkoraiskauksesta epäilyt vangittiin (Helsingin Sanomat) What’s wrong with the
UPDATE (Mar. 11): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism
Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link. Mar. 11 Tapanilan raiskaus ja HS:n uutisointi – Mitä kertoa, kun epäillyt ovat jo kiini? (Helsingin Sanomat) Some bad and some good journalism. The police said
UPDATE (December 5): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism
How does the Finnish media give politicians that spread xenophobia and racism inflated respectability and importance? How can they spread their prejudices and lies about immigrants and minorities without the help of the media? Migrant Tales will begin to collect stories from January 7 written by careless journalists that have been taken for a ride by such
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