Contrary to the last three parliamentary elections in 2011, 2015, and 2019, the upcoming parliamentary election on April 2 is different for several reasons: war rages in the Ukeraine, Finland has sought Nato membership, economic growth, and chronic labor shortages are just a few. Apart from labeling people from outside the EU as “harmful” migrants,
Read on »Posts Tagged: asylum seekers
Finland’s radical-right party’s xenophobic copy and paste of Denmark’s hardline immigration policy
There is nothing new in the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* immigration program announced Monday. A surprise for me was that the PS hardline stance means ALL migrants. Previously, I thought the term “migrant” used by the PS was code for Muslims or persons from outside the EU. If the PS had its way, it would completely overhaul
Read on »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
Read on »“Youth gang violence” is a political stunt based on lies
I would go as far as to predict that after the election in April, the youth gang issue will disappear. It was the case in Oulu when Finland became hysterical about sexual assaults committed by migrants. We’re in the same situation today. True, we have to address social problems with good social policy. Fortunately, Finland
Read on »10,000 euros for a work permit: How a Vantaa cleaning company exploits foreigners
An Iraqi, 33, who came to Finland in 2015, alleges that his employer of a Vantaa cleaning company asked him for 10,000 euros to give him a letter to the Finnish Immigration Service so he’d get a residence permit. He made a deal with the Finnish employer in 2019, and he would pay the sum
Read on »Migrant Tales Media Monitoring: An example of Yle zzz journalism
Journalism is a tough job that forces one to stay on its toes. On Thursday on A-Talk we heard the opinions of four MPs of the Left Alliance, Social Democrats, National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), and the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* if Finland was heading towards a debt crisis and spending cutbacks. There was nothing new from PS
Read on »The PS and Riikka Purra pile it high and deep
Here is an example of a discriminatory and spiteful message by the far-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party head, Riikka Purra. With parliamentary elections in April, she and the PS are ratcheting up their xenophobic message. “A foreigner is entitled to social welfare when making 716 euros a month. Such a [benchmark] was given the green light
Read on »NO HATE FINLAND STATEMENT: The parliamentary election has begun for the Finns Party”
The Finns Party (PS) is actively campaigning for the upcoming parliamentary election in April. The party published Monday its so-called “Finnishness program,” Suomalaisuuden ohjelma 2022. The program attacks two groups: migrants and Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority. The hostility and simplistic arguments against these two groups resemble an angry and spiteful person willing to lie and cheat to get
Read on »Why is racism such a difficult matter for Helsingin Sanomat to address?
Helsingin Sanomat raised an important question: There are a record amount of asylum seekers from Ukraine, but nobody is crying murder like when mostly Iraqis and Afghans came to Finland in large numbers in 2015. In a statement Monday, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) said that there are over 37,000 Ukrainians registered in the Finnish
Read on »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
Read on »How will we treat Ukrainian refugees in Finland?
The interior ministry estimates “tens of thousands” Ukrainians moving to Finland as a result of the war in that country, according to Yle News. There are about 7,000 Ukrainians in Finland, but Anna Rundgren, a ministry of interior senior specialist, believes that the actual figure is several times higher. In 2015, the country saw a record
Read on »Exposing white Finnish privilege #83: War doesn’t give a hoot if you are white or black
The war in Ukraine is like a sinister brew boiling over death, destruction, tragedy, hatred, and xenophobia. Apart from the shock and horror, our double standards and jingoism stand out as a stark reminder that we have done little to challenge the very social ills that caused the deaths of tens of millions of people
Read on »Migrant Tales Literary: Finland does not accept asylum seekers any longer
By Leo Honka On ships, On foot, By bus, By plane, By car, By bike, With hope, Everyone conspires to leave where the floodlights comb the state of siege. Whoever writes about pain, in my country, is slain, tortured on the street left starving fed to your racism. Don’t sing me any lullabies! Don’t hand
Read on »At times like this, I am ashamed of Finland and the EU
The so-called migrant crisis with Belarus offers Lukashenko and Putin an opportunity and EU politicians tools to fearmonger and score brownie points with voters. Isn’t it odd how one-sided the news is about the refugee crisis at the Belarus border? Most of the opposition politicians, especially from the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), believe that harsh
Read on »The cracks are beginning to show
Islamophobia and other forms of racism are for some politicians their gateway to power and infamy. Watching part of the firey debate Wednesday in parliament that led to a vote of confidence for the government, one wonders what some politicians, especially with the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, have in their heads. The saddest matter was the
Read on »Oops! Incorrect suspected sexual assault cases for 2020
Sexual assault, especially suspected cases, is heatedly used by anti-immigration parties like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and public services like the police to demonstrate how some foreigners are. The police admitted today to a mistake in tabulating suspected sexual assault cases during 2020. The mistake originates from a foreigner suspected of sexually assaulting his wife 141
Read on »Finnish government to ease (alas) strict family reunification law
The Finnish government of Prime Minister Sanna Marin plans to overturn the country tightened immigration law and family reunification requirements, which came into force a year later after a record 32,477 asylum seekers came to Finland in 2015. The then government of Center Party Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, the anti-immigration Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party was a
Read on »Exposing white Finnish privilege #81: Racializing crime, perpetuating stereotypes and racism
Treat with tweezers whenever percentage figures are used to depict sexual assault cases by migrants. A government-commissioned study published Thursday concluded that migrants are over-represented in suspected sexual assault crimes, perpetuating a toxic narrative. Such generalizations give ammunition to Islamophobes like the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party to maintain and reinforce racist stereotypes. To look at how the Finnish
Read on »The Finnish media’s reporting about migrants and minorities is a disappointment
It is surprising, even worrying, that outsiders are the ones that help burst the media’s many bubbles. One such OP-ED published Wednesday in Helsingin Sanomat by Antti Kivijärvi, and Martta Myllyä sheds light on the blind spot created by exceptionalism and ethnocentrism. Should it be a surprise that this state of affairs happens whenever migrants
Read on »Insulting migrants is called “discussion” and a privilege of white Finns
THIS STORY WAS UPDATED Remember when Center Party parliamentary group leader Juha Pylväs slammed asylum seekers as “parasites” that wanted to live off social welfare? Pretty sickening and lowly on his part. I hope that Pylväs get charged with ethnic agitation. But what is worse? The silence and support for what he said and the
Read on »The PS and its obsession with migrants
If you had the opportunity to listen inside the brain of a Perussuomalaiset (PS)* politician, you’d probably hear the following word: migrants, maahanmuuttajat, migrants, maahanmuuttajat… The head of the PS parliamentary group, Ville Tavio, regurgetates that obsessive word in countless tweets and statements. Tavio tweets: “Finnish human rights are threatened as a result of massive
Read on »Ilayta’s and her family’s new life in Finland is a message full of resilience, hope, and courage
Migrants search for hope. Their searching offer us hope. Fourteen-year-old Ilayta’s family history and her drawings offer a glimpse of what hope is. They were searching for five years for a new home in Greece, and four years in Finland finally paid off in July 2019, when they were given a residence permit in Finland.
Read on »Number of coronavirus infections at the Espoo asylum reception center soar to 97
Coronavirus infections at the Luona-managed Nihtisilta reception center in Espoo now stand at 97, according to Luona’s Business Director Suvi Salonen. That compares with two cases at the beginning of April and up to 25 during the middle of the month. “We tested 207 people [of the Nihtisilta reception center] on Monday and Tuesday and
Read on »Greek-Turkish border crisis: Shame on the EU, shame on Turkey, shame on us
THIS STORY WAS UPDATED Shame on Greece. Shame on Turkey. Shame on Europe. Shame on President Sauli Niinistö as thousands of migrants are massing at the Greek-Turkish border. The pictures that Europeans are witnessing the humanitarian crisis through their local media are scary. Yesterday, Monday, it was reported that a child aged 6 or 7
Read on »The PS playbook of how to spread racism, disinformation and fake news
Perussuomalaiset (PS)* first vice president and MP, Riikka Purra, is at it again. During the postal strike, she misled people by stating that 98% of early morning mail carriers were migrants. Early morning mail carriers are a small part of the postal company’s services. According to Posti, 80% of postal workers in Finland and 70%
Read on »Iltalehti does it again: Spreading hatred and degrading asylum seekers
Finland’s tabloids, Iltalehti and Ilta-Sanomat, are part of the country’s racism and Islamophobia problem. Back in 2015, Ilta-Sanomat stated on a billboard that 10,000 “illegal refugees” will come to Finland. This biased and racist journalism exposes how biased and unbalanced some Finnish media is. In their ever-alarming way to boost sales, Iltalehti led a story
Read on »Migrant Tales Literary: Yaseen Ghaleb – Execution celebration, Teloitusjuhla
Migrant Tales insight: A couple of days ago with got a message from Yaseen Ghaleb, who wants to share his poetry with us. He published a novel, which will be in the Cairo book fair in January and called +15, which highlights how migrants and Finns can find common ground. The book will be present
Read on »Asylum seekers start indefinite demonstration in front of the Finnish Immigration Service
A group of present and former asylum seekers decided to hold an indefinite demonstration in front of Helsinki’s Finnish Immigration Service’s (Migri) on Thursday for better rights and security in Finland. Walid Sahib, one of the persons taking part in the demonstration, said that the most important matter is to raise awareness for the plight
Read on »Dedicated to the “let them drown” MEP candidates of Finland
Islamophobes and other racists believe that those they victimize have short memories. Wrong. We remember and will do everything for our children and grandchildren to remember their viciousness. Migrant Tales published a shameful list of Finnish MEP candidates who answered an Alma Media election compass question: “Is it the obligation of the EU to save
Read on »Perussuomalaiset MP dehumanizes asylum seekers as “invasive species”
Perussuomalaist* MP Juha Mäenpää, a member of the far-right Nazi-spirited Suomen Sisu, labelled asylum seekers in a session of parliament as “an invasive species.“ Mäenpää is the same person who in 2015 stated that god had answered his prayers after a reception center that was going to house asylum seekers was razed to the ground.
Read on »Hassan Abdi Ali: My journey to Finland (via the Mediterranean)
My journey to Finland from Somalia lasted five months. It was a very long and dangerous journey, and I would never do it again.
Read on »City of Oulu’s “ban” on asylum seekers visiting day-care centers and schools may be unconstitutional. “Ban” to be lifted on April 14.
The City of Oulu plans to lift a ban on asylum seekers visiting day care centers and schools on April 14, according to Mika Penttilä, the city’s director of education and culture. “This is not a ban,” said Penttilä, “but a recommendation that asylum seekers are not allowed to visit day-care centers and schools.”
Read on »ANTI-HATE CRIME ORGANISATION STATEMENT: You should not generalize and label all migrants
STATEMENT 5.2.2019 Suomen viharikosvastainen yhdistys ry Finska Anti-Harbrottsorganisation rf Anti-Hate Crime Organisation Finland The news about the sexual assault cases in the northern Finnish city of Oulu have shocked everyone irrespective of the person’s cultural and religious background. Even so, in racializing the problem and debating whether sexual abuse is linked to a person’s
Read on »WARNING RACIST CONTENT: Helsingin Sanomat survey exposes the DNA of Finland’s racism
Helsingin Sanomat’s survey published on Monday after another questionable story on “model immigrants” was widely criticized on social media as outright racist. Even so, I would like to thank Finland’s largest daily for exposing the DNA of Finland’s racism and the continued low caliber of its journalism on topics related to asylum seekers and migrants.
Read on »Warning: Islamophobic content – schools and daycare centers in Oulu to temporarily ban visiting rights by asylum seekers, refugees
Here is a story you would never expect to read in a country like Finland, which bases its values on social equality, human rights and mutual respect. The decision to ban asylum seekers and refugees from visiting schools and daycare centers in Oulu due to the suspected sexual abuse cases raises a lot of questions.
Read on »Ali’s journey: Getting married in Turkey and the long wait. Will he get a visa to Finland?
On 10.10.2018, Ali,* 22, and his Finnish wife, 19, spent one of the most memorable days of their lives when they got married in Ankara. Present at the ceremony were two witnesses, the wife’s sister and a friend of Ali’s. Marriages in Turkey take place at the Turkish Marriage Offices. “Everything went smoothly and rapidly,” said
Read on »A deportees’ round-trip journey to a former hell and back
Ali, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is an asylum seeker, was deported with his wife on Tuesday from Helsinki to Baghdad. In Baghdad, he took a plane back to Finland. He is now staying with his wife at an asylum reception center in Greater Helsinki.
Read on »Some asylum seekers in Finland live in crowded rooms and in dreadful conditions
Below are two picture and a short note from an asylum seeker called Adam who came to Finland in 2012. During his long and painful sojourn in this country, being locked up for a year at the Joutseno immigration removal center to being an undocumented migrant, Adam is now staying at an asylum reception center in the Greater Helsinki area.
Read on »A message from Ali, who was deported to Kabul, Afghanistan, from Finland
A thirty-year-old Afghan asylum seeker who was deported from Finland three months ago got in touch with me Thursday morning. His messages on Messenger were simple but behind them were evident uncertainty and anxiety. We spoke in Finnish by phone later in the afternoon. Ali had learned a lot of Finnish in the two and a half years he waited unsuccessfully for a residence permit.
Read on »Prime Minister Juha Sipilä fuels Finland’s hostile environment for migrants
While I was not surprised by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s comments about migration and the rise of the far right in YLE’s Ykkösaamu talk show, the interview offers a good example of how his government continues to fuel Finland’s hostile environment for migrants. According to Adrian Berry, a leading UK immigration lawyer, defined in in The Guardian, the
Read on »An active citizen needs to learn at school about two crucial matters: empathy and social activism
If we look at history and today’s Europe and globally, it becomes clear that most people who went to school that too many never learned about empathy and social activism. A positive example of the latter is Elin Ersson, who refused to take a seat on a flight before they removed an Afghanistan deported asylum seeker off the plane.
Read on »Does Ibrahim’s claim about Hepatitis B expose white fragility?
Migrant Tales published a story about Ibrahim’s* “voluntary” return to Iraq after coming to Finland in October 2015. While there were many that felt for Ibrahim’s case, some were more preoccupied with what he alleged, or that he contracted Hepatitis B when going to a Finnish dentist. In journalism, you run up against a lot
Read on »Ibrahim of Iraq: “Finland is a never-ending long dark tunnel without light”
Do you remember the patient asylum seeker called Ibrahim*, who applied to hundreds of jobs in Finland and who finally got a job at Posti to deliver newspapers at homes? Well, Ibrahim is so fed up with Finland that he decided to move back to Iraq.
Read on »Rafal Rada Mousa: A good ending to a long uncertain journey from Iraq to Finland
Rafal Raad Mousa, 18, whose former pseudonym on Migrant Tales was Saboora,* is a very happy young woman together with her family. After a three-year wait in Finland, Rafal and her family of two brothers, sister, and mother were granted a residence permit.
Read on »Thailand versus the Mediterranean: Your human value hinges on ethnic and cultural background
We have all been reading about the rescue operation in northern Thailand raises a question: Why so much media interest in the fate of twelve children trapped for sixteen days when between 23,000 and 28,500 of people have perished in the Mediterranean during 1993-2018 while trying to travel to Europe.
Read on »How to fool customers by changing the expired sell-by dates of your products
Migrant Tales has exposed how an Espoo-Helsinki-based food distributor allegedly pays asylum seekers under the table. The company’s name, which the authorities know, allegedly threatens asylum seekers to do their dirty work, like change the sell-by date of its products.
Read on »Why the Finnish media and police do not have credibility with minorities and migrants
When I was making a living as a journalist many years ago, I learned that the best way to get scoops was by having good sources. Even if this is clear, the question is how do you get those good sources so that you bump into news and scoops?
Read on »A food distributor that hires asylum seekers, pays them under the table, to change the sell-by dates of their old products
An Espoo-Helsinki-based ethnic-food distributor, which allegedly hires asylum seekers and pays them near-starvation salaries under the table, uses such victims to repackage and change the sell-by dates of food products that should not be sold. Some of these products are allegedly five years old and their sell-by dates have changed twice, according to an asylum seeker, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Read on »Exploitation of asylum seekers in Finland for profit and illegal activities
Migrant Tales will publish and expose this week a foods distributor that pays asylum seekers under the table to change the sell-by dates of their products. We have a written statement and many pictures sent to us by one former employee that show how easy it is to change sell-by dates of products.
Read on »QUOTE OF THE DAY: Tightening of immigration laws in Finland and the exploitation of migrants
The near-constant negative labelling of visible migrants like Muslims and minorities by too many Finnish politicians and society has not only weakened their civil rights as Amnesty International pointed out, but led to their exploitation by dishonest and greedy employers that promise them a job and a ticket to a residence permit.
Read on »Adam, the undocumented migrant in Finland from Ingushetia, Russia
Adam,* an undocumented and homeless migrant from Ingushetia, a troubled region of Russia located near Chechnya, is a Muslim who applied for asylum in Finland in 2012. He got in touch with Migrant Tales a week ago and asked if we could help him.
Read on »Facebook Ahmed IJ: Words of exclusion
Migrant Tales insight: If finding a job isn’t easy for a foreigner in Finland, it is especially hard for an asylum seeker. Doors close and some are left ajar. Even so, you are not supposed to pass inside if you are an asylum seeker.
Read on »Twitter: UNICEF criticizes Finland over the detention of asylum-seeker children
UNICEF rebukes Finland over its treatment of asylum-seeking minors, according to YLE News. Human rights activists like Zuzeeko Tegha Abeng have lobbied Finland to stop detaining children in 2013. He wrote: “According to Amnesty International, children should be in day care centres, schools or skateparks – not in police detention. Finland detains thousands of people
Read on »UPDATE: Three suicide attempts allegedly took place within a month at the Joutseno immigration removal center
The Joutseno immigration removal center must be a horrible place to end up in. Migrant Tales has heard that there have been at least three suicide attempts, two allegedly “successful” with one person hospitalized.
Read on »CORRECTION: A Moroccan asylum seeker who was sentenced to a year in prison attempts suicide
Migrant Tales understands that a Moroccan asylum seeker attempted to take his life at the Joutseno immigration removal center. The man was doing a one-year sentence of which he had served eight months.
Read on »Finland’s asylum policy is the story of complacent silence and crocodile tears
Iraqi asylum seeker Ali’s death reported by YLE have shocked some while others shed crocodile tears.
Read on »Ali’s death is another sign on the road that Finland’s government would care less for asylum seekers
We heard today that case of a returned Iraqi refugee who died in Baghdad after being refused asylum in Finland. The only explanation that the new interior minister, Kai Mykkänen, can offer is that it was “sad and tragic.”
Read on »The story of two asylum seekers in Finland: Arezo’s and Saboora’s three drawings
Two women, a young mother of two children, and of a teenage girl who traveled with her family to Finland in 2015. Both have something in common even if they are from different countries: Both are refugees who still don’t know if they will get asylum in Finland. Two years have gone by since their long
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker in detention cell 406: “Migri doesn’t believe I’m a Christian”
Just like the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) proclaims violent countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia to be “safe” for such nationals but not for Finns, they don’t have any problems about deporting you back to such countries if you are a Christian. If what Iraqi asylum seeker in detention cell 406 in Lappeenranta states is correct, his life is in danger if deported as a Christian back to his former home country.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker in detention cell 406: “I fear they will deport me next week”
We published last week a story about Iraqi asylum seeker in detention cell 406 in Lappeenranta, Finland. He was detained on October 23 in the eastern Finnish city of Mikkeli by the police and sent to Lappeenranta.
Read on »UPDATE: How Migri and Finland play down the plight and suffering of asylum seekers
I heard on Wednesday that a young Afghan resident who came as an asylum seeker to Finland committed suicide this week. A fellow Afghan who knew him said: “What happened is very sad. He wasn’t very social and liked to be by himself.”
Read on »Migrant Tales insight: Swedish Daily News published an article on legal alternatives for negative asylum decisions in Finland
Anyone who has had a refusal to emigrate from Finland has the problem of not organizing his or her defense at the appeal stage of the Finnish courts. Unfortunately, many are getting their applications for asylum rejected by the court. It is important to obtain support and information on the closure of the asylum case in Finland after all stages of the judicial appeal are exhausted.
Read on »Finland’s Draconian immigration policy today has its roots in the Cold War era
The quote sits well with Finland’s Draconian immigration and asylum policy. The number of undocumented migrants has soared from an estimated 300. Those who are lucky enough to get a residence permit can say goodbye to ever bringing their loved ones to this country because family reunification requirements have been tightened. In sum, the Finnish government and the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) have done everything possible to make their lives as miserable as possible and expel them from here.
Read on »The words and silence of politicians have dire consequences in Finland for us
After the stabbing of ten people in Turku on Friday, politicians like President Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, Interior Minister Paula Risikko, the national media, which echoes far-right opinions of Jussi Halla-aho, the chairman of the Perussuomalaiset* who was convicted for hate speech, appear to be carried away by their own prejudices and hostility towards asylum seekers, which does impact our culturally diverse community.
Read on »Facebook Nuor Dawood: Leaving to a country that doesn’t deport children, pregnant women and asylum seekers
Migrant Tales insight: Nuor Dawood states perfectly in the Facebook posting below what too many asylum seekers feel in Finland. History will not forget Finland or the European Union for its total lack of empathy. In many respects, it’s the same attitude and indifference that permitted the Holocaust to happen in the 1940s. Just put them
Read on »Welcome back to “safe” Iraq, let me slash you with a knife
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) continues to insist that countries like Iraq, where Finnish nationals are discouraged from visiting, is a safe country to deport people. Migri deports everyone they don’t give residence permits. You leave either “voluntarily” or by “force.”
Read on »Nour Jamal’s art exhibition at the Asbestos Art Space: A journey to a safer life?
Nour Jamal is one of the thousands of Iraqi asylum seekers who came to Finland in 2015. He came to Finland with his parents and sister in the hope of finding a better life free from war and where human rights are respected.
Read on »Avelino* wasn’t the first undocumented migrant I had met in Finland
I got an email from a Migrant Tales reader who told me about Avelino*, a middle-aged Filipino who was working in Finland but who got deported last year with his two children. He wasn’t the first undocumented migrant I had met in Finland. The first one I met was a Mexican cook in the 1980s who was working for a restaurant called Mexicana in Helsinki.
Read on »(Announcement) 2017 Summer School Migration in Southern Europe: Solidarity, Crisis and Beyond
This seven-day course “Migration in Southern Europe: Solidarity, Crisis and Beyond” will investigate the developments, challenges and the impact of the migration and refugee crisis on southern European societies and on migrant populations. It will also explore the prospects for improving the current management of issues and relevant social policies. In conjunction with the lectures
Read on »Exploiting asylum seekers in the Finnish labor market reveals our failed asylum and integration policy
Migrant Tales has written a number of stories showing how Finland’s asylum policy and treatment of about 38,000 asylum seekers that came to the country during 2015-16 has been costly and ineffective. The government claims differently for obvious reasons.
Read on »Finland to deport an illiterate, 70-year-old asylum seeker to Iraq
Migrant Tales has learned that a 70-year-old Kurdish woman will get deported from Finland within 30 days. The woman, who is illiterate and came to Finland in 2015, got three rejections for asylum.
Read on »A message from a 13-year-old asylum seeker girl that will be deported: “Good night”
The ordeal of the Iraqi family of nine that is expects to be deported possibly Wednesday hasn’t ended but there is hope despite everything. One of the children of the family, who is 13, sends a message below from the immigration removal center at Joutseno: “Good night.” The youngest member of the family is 1.5
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker in Finland: I’m building my home here and getting married this week
Whenever an asylum seeker, irrespective of how many times his or her application for asylum got turned down, there is one matter that must be done: write, write and write.
Read on »Twitter Muhammed Shire: Päivi Nerg faces tough questions on Tuesday
Migrant Tales insight: Thank you Muhammed Shire for tweeting this. The fact that there are so many questions thrown at permanent secretary of the interior ministry, Päivi Nerg, about Monday’s deportation is a good sign. It shows that more and more people in Finland oppose the government’s asylum policies. Don’t be confused by Nerg’s title.
Read on »اشتباه مترجمان در اداره مهاجرت و پولیس
زمانی که تعدادی از جواب های منفی که اداره پولیس به پناهجویان میدهد را ترجمه میکردم؛ چند نکته مهم توجه ام را جلب کرد:
Read on »Iraqi and Afghan demonstration protestors attacked in Helsinki by Finnish thugs
It’s clear from the comments of far-right Suomi Ensin protestors and even of some Helsinki city councilors that they want the #righttolive demonstration that has been going on since February to end. Even so, far-right demonstrators are confident that the police and Finnish political establishment is on their side that they video and upload an attack against two demonstrators of the #righttolive camp.
Read on »Somali National Television: Stop deportations! demonstration in Helsinki
Xassan Kaafi Maxamed Xalane is a Somali National Television journalist who shares another news clip about the Iraqi and Afghan asylum seekers demonstrating against unfair deportations and rejections for asylum by the Finnish Immigration Service.
Read on »لا استئناف لقرار الرفض لانك ستحصل على قرار سلبي في كل الاحوال
هذا ما قاله مسؤول في الشرطة لعائله ارادت الاستئناف . ما يمكن ان يكون تأثير تعليق كهذا من قبل احد رجال الشرطه على عائله من طالبي اللجوء بهدف عرقله اجراءات الاستئناف ؟ حكايات المهاجرين علمت ان عائله عراقيه مولفه من زوج وزوجه وطفل بالاضافه لوالده الزوج قد توجهت لاستلام الرفض الاول فقال لهم الشرطي :
Read on »Announcement by Lex Gaudius: Immigration Service, police and government petition
IMMIGRATION SERVICE, POLICE AND GOVERNMENT PETITION Dossier Faulty decisions made by the Immigration Service to the asylum seekers and actions of the authorities related on them. Underwrites Representatives of the asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iraq; In cooperation with International law firm Lex Gaudius I. FAULTY DECISIONS MADE BY THE FIINISH IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Read on »Saturday’s demo by far-right groups like the Perussuomalsiset, Suomi Ensi, Rajat kiinni! and neo-Nazi fanatics was a stinging flop
A handful of well-organized Afghan and Iraqi asylum seekers demonstrating against deportations at the Helsinki Railway Square since February scored a victory over a splintered far-right anti-immigration counter-demonstration that was a flop. They were all there: the Perussuomalaiset* (PS), Suomen Sisu, Suomi Ensi, Rajat kiinni!, Suomen vastarintaliike and who knows what.
Read on »Thank you asylum seekers for exposing Finland for what it is!
Finland got during 2015 and 2016 38,017 asylum seekers mostly from Iraq (21,698), Afghanistan (5,939) and Somalia (2,408), according to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). Even if these asylum seekers have received the government’s and Migri’s cold shulder, we should thank hem for exposing our deep denial of racism as a society and ineffective immigration-integration policy.
Read on »Finland’s deep denial of racism coupled with exceptionalism make it susceptible to right-wing populism and fascism
If the latter claim above is true, it explains and reveals why Helsinki District Court judges agree with most of the decisions by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). The fact that only a very minor amount of decisions by Migri are rejected by the district courts speaks volumes about our country.
Read on »Finland’s interpretation of human rights is to turn you into an “undocumented migrant” and kick you out of the country – HELP!
What do you say about a country that is willing to throw into the street and deport a three-and-a-half old baby born in Finland? Let’s include another one-and-a-half old child, a six-year-old girl, and a boy, who is eight. What about if we add their parents as well?
Read on »Day 25 of the Helsinki demonstration by asylum seekers: We are happy that you are a thorn in the government’s and Migri’s side
Twenty-five cold days have elapsed since a group of asylum seekers decided to exercise their democratic rights and protest deportation and the government’s strict asylum policy. The longer these demonstrators protest the deeper the thorn will penetrate the government’s and Finnish Immigration Service’s (Migri) side.
Read on »Day 18 of the Helsinki demonstration by asylum seekers: What about if Finland’s asylum policy is a cover-up?
The fact that the district courts agree in vast majority with the rejections handed by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) speaks volumes of the serious problem and our responsibility as a nation to grant protection to those who need it.
Read on »How racism and suspicion have ruined Finland’s centenary celebrations of 2017
If there is a party pooper in this year’s centenary celebrations it’ll be ourselves: the politicians, the urban tales, prejudices, racism and suspicion that has raised its head with ease in Finland as of late.
Read on »w2eu.info: How to stop a deportation
Deportations appear to be on the rise these days. Politically they help give bigoted and racist politicians clout among voters. President Donald Trump has a plan to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the United States and Europe is following the same path.
Read on »Finnish immigration policy: Passing the buck and “yalla, yalla” police
The conversation between a policeman and Iraqi asylum seeker who was presumably deported Thursday, revealed in crude fashion how the government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä in general and Interior Minister Paula Risikko in particular pass the buck when it comes to putting people in harm’s way.
Read on »Day 12 of the Helsinki demonstration by asylum seekers: Hussain Kazemian wishes you well!
Hussain Kazemian is from Afghanistan and visited the Iraqi asylum seekers at the Helsinki Railway Square Tuesday and Wednesday morning. She shares what he saw and the atmosphere at the demonstration, which celebrates today is 12th day.
Read on »في اليوم 11 من مظاهرة هلسنكي طالبي اللجوء العراقيين: “الحل هو اللجوء في فنلندا
Read on »
Farrah and her three-year-old child: Don’t deport us back to Iraq from Finland!
Farrah* is an Iraqi woman who came to Finland in September 2015 with her then one-year-old child. She left Turkey in the hope that she’d get a residence permit and would be able to bring her husband and two children in Turkey, aged 10 and 12.
Read on »Picture of the week: Standing up for our rights to asylum and hurrah for our side!
We’ve been watching, like all of Finland, the brave asylum seekers who are standing up since the weekend to a government and Finnish Immigration Service that cares little to nothing for their fates. These pictures that they are taking and the stories of defiance they are telling form part of the ever-culturally diverse history of
Read on »(Institute of Race Relations) “No one accepts responsibility:” thirteen refugees dead in Greece
As refugees and migrants die in Greece’s ‘hotspots’, military camps and in transit, the EU, the UNHCR and Greek institutions must be held to account.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker FS: Deportation countdown begins
The police service in Seinjäjoki, a city located 30km from the Finnish Emigrant Museum of Peräseinäjoki, told a young Iraqi asylum seeker on Monday of his third rejections for asylum by the supreme district court and has two choices: To return “voluntarily” or “by force” to Iraq.
Read on »W. Che: Everyone has a home
Facebook: “We won’t send you back to a hell called Iraq,” writes Kerstin Ögård
Hi guys
I just had this thought that to do something about our “murderer-government” (:D :D) we really need you Iraqi people to not work against each other. There is so much suspicion and lies and mistrust…some people working together with OUR government(??), giving them information just so people save their own asses—guys, this country does not work that way! 🙂 ( I understand everybody just do what you need to do, to stay safe..I am not judging, I understand this…)
Read on »Facebook: Don’t lose hope no matter how wrong the Finnish government is
I know it is really hard for you now, with forced deportations, and all this bullshit that our stupid government is trying to do at the moment, and trying to hide at the same that they are doing it… I just want you to know that don’t worry.
Read on »A Finnish asylum policy that is doomed to fail
It’s been well over a year since tens of thousands of asylum seekers came to Finland from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and others. An important watershed in the history of these asylum seekers took place in May, when an assessment by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) saw parts of countries like Iraq are safe to return asylum seekers.
Read on »Ahmad Liath: “I left Iraq because I long for freedom”
Ahmad Liath was twelve years old when he left Iraq in 2005. Two years before that year, the United States invaded Iraq in 2003 and in 2004 his father was killed.
Read on »Hayder Al-Hatemi is freed from detention and becomes a momentary bright spot in the gloom that asylum seekers face in Finland
Some stories that Migrant Tales has published about asylum seekers in Finland have had tragic endings. On Wednesday, however, there was a bright spot that cut through some of the gloom: Hayder Al-Hatemi, alias “SH,”* was released from detention from Helsinki’s Metsälä immigration removal center.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker SH was released today after being detained since January 6
SH, the Iraqi asylum seeker who was detained by the police on Janaury 6, was released today from Helsinki’s Metsälä immigration removal center. SH was detained on the same day together with KM, who was released from detention on January 12. “I’m really happy and now I must renew my work permit,” he told Migrant
Read on »Detained Iraqi asylum seeker SH: “I hope to go back to work”
Today Iraqi asylum seeker SH, who was detained with KM on January 6, has been detained at Helsinki’s Metsälä immigration removal center for 24 days. SH said that he was interviewed today by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) concerning his new asylum application.
Read on »DH’s Finnish fiancée speaks about his detention and possible deportation to Iraq: “This is so nerve-racking and unfair!”
DH was detained on Sunday by the police in Pori and his fiancée, who is eight weeks pregnant, claims that the police set up a trap for her partner.
Read on »الترحيل القسري هو الحل الاقل عداله والاكثر ايلاما ( خطيبه محتجز في قسم الشرطه )
قامت الشرطه باحتجازه يوم الاحد الماضي عندما توجه لمركز الشرطه في بوري برفقه خطيبته الحامل ( 8 اسابيع ) والتي قالت ان الشرطه قد نصبت فخا له
Read on »پولیس فنلاند پناه جویان را به” اشتباه
وامیدارد” تا داوطلبانه به کشورشان بازگردند. اما نمیتوان این موضوع را بطور رسمی تایید کرد . زمانی که به پناه جو برای دومین بار جواب منفی داده میشود، به اداره پولیس مراجعه میکند تا جواب “محکمه محلی “ را از پولیس دریافت کند. منبعی به ما میگوید: بعد از دریافت جواب منفی اداره پولیس، پناهجو
Read on »Finnish Police detain fifth Iraqi asylum seeker in over two weeks they plan to deport
We reported that an Iraqi asylum seeker in Oulu called MS was detained by the police on Friday.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker SH continues to be detained since January 6
SH, the Iraqi asylum seeker who was detained by the police service on January 6 and sent to the Metsälä detention center in Helsinki is still hopeful that he’ll be released.
Read on »هذا ما حدث عندما وصلت طائره علي المبعد الى العراق
على الرغم من تصريحات السفير العراقي في فنلندا السيد السبتي ان العراق لن يقبل بترحيل طالبي اللجوء العراقيين قسرا الى العراق , ان علىي , طالب اللجوء العراقي والذي قمنا بمتابعته قد وصل الى بعداد مكرها
Read on »“Ali” tells us what happens when a deported Iraqi lands at Baghdad International Airport
Migrant Tales has learned from a source who is in touch with Ali, who was deported to Baghdad Wednesday that Iraq does accept people who refuse to go back. Even if the Iraqi Ambassador to Finland, Matheel Dhayif Al-Sabti, said that his country doesn’t accept forced deportations, Ali had no choice but to get off the plane when he arrived at Baghdad International Airport.
Read on »UPDATE: Third Iraqi asylum seeker called “Ali” deported this afternoon
Migrant Tales has learned that an asylum seeker who was detained after KM and SH and called “Ali” is being deported this afternoon to Iraq. The asylum seeker, who got two rejections, was staying at the Metsälä detention center in Helsinki. “The police came yesterday and told Ali that he’d be deported tomorrow [to Iraq],
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker apprehended by the police service on January 6 expects to be released soon from detention
SH, who was apprehended by the police on January 6 together with KM, another Iraqi asylum seeker freed Thursday, is still being held at the Metsälä detention camp. SH is being held together with AM, another Iraqi asylum.
Read on »UPDATE: Iraqi apprehended by police will allegedly be deported to Iraq Tuesday
January 17, 3:30 pm Migrant Tales understands that the Finnish police service deported this afternoon back to Iraq a 23-year-old asylum seeker who had two rejections for asylum, according to unconfirmed reports. His friend said that the police had told him that the asylum seeker would be deported back to Iraq Tuesday afternoon. The asylum seeker was
Read on »Soon-to-be deported SH opens new asylum case and is confident he won’t be forcibly sent to Iraq
SH is one of the three asylum seekers that were detained on January 6 by the police and sent from Turku to the Metsälä detention center in Helsinki a week ago to await deportation. Since then, KM was released Thursday but SH and another Iraqi asylum seeker, AM, are still at the detention center.
Read on »As deportations start to pick up in Finland since the beginning of the year so has fear among Iraqi and other asylum seekers
The news of the detention on Friday and deportation order on Sunday of two Iraqi asylum seekers, KM and SH, came to a shock to many asylum seekers in Finland. We suspect at Migrant Tales that deporting more people to Iraq this year is a ploy used by the Finnish Immigration Service and Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government to instill fear among asylum seekers.
Read on »Two Iraqi asylum seekers get deportation order from judge and will be flown to Iraq “in two weeks”
A judge in the city of Turku has decided that Iraqi asylum seeker KM will be deported “in two weeks” from Finland. KM told Migrant Tales that he didn’t know about the fate of his friend, SH, who was detained by police on Friday.
Read on »Judge to decide Sunday whether two Iraqi asylum seekers will be forcibly deported
KM, the Iraqi asylum seeker that has been detained by the police in Turku, will see a judge today that will decide whether to deport him and his friend, SH, forcibly back to Iraq.
Read on »Why do the Finnish police deport Iraqi asylum seekers if there is no repatriation agreement with Baghdad?
In early December, National Police Board Chief Superintendent Mia Poutanen was quoted as saying in YLE News it is “a false notion” that Finland needs a repatriation agreement with a country like Iraq to deport somebody. Migrant Tales got in touch with an Iraqi asylum seeker who is being detained and risks deportation.
Read on »Laajakoski asylum reception center gives refugees the “opportunity” to learn Finnish for 250 euros a month
The management of the Laajakoski asylum reception center located near the Finnish southeast city of Kotka, is reported to have given the green light for the 250-odd refugees at the center to take Finnish-language courses for 250 euros a month.
Read on »Remember when PM Juha Sipilä offered his home in Finland to asylum seekers?
In September 2015, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä offered his home in Kempele to asylum seekers. Even so, the tone and position of the prime minister and the government changed by December when Sipilä said that he couldn’t offer his home to asylum seekers any longer because his hometown in northern Finland wasn’t safe for refugees.
Read on »Repatriation agreement between Iraqi Ministry of Migration & Displaced and Finland comes to naught
Talks between the Iraqi Ministry of Migration & Displaced and Finnish permanent secretary of the interior ministry, Päivi Nerg, have ended without any agreement, according to an official statement, which added that some 5,000 Iraqi asylum seekers have returned from Finland to Iraq.
Read on »The Finnish Red Cross must take action to correct the alleged abuses at the Laajakoski asylum reception center near Kotka
Migrant Tales and Kymen Sanomat published on Saturday and Sunday stories about the problems and abuses that asylum seekers face at the Red Cross-run Laajakoski reception center. The fact that incompetence, poor management, and abuses of asylum seekers take place at the reception center near Kotka is unacceptable.
Read on »Police superintendent of Finland: No need for repatriation agreement with Iraq, we can deport asylum seekers if we wish
This statement by Chief Superintendent Poutanen has a lot of Iraqi asylum seekers worried. It is then possible to force Iraqi asylum seekers who got a negative decision from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) to go back to their country?
Read on »UPDATE: Minor asylum seeker at the Villa Meri reception center sent to hospital after getting pepper-sprayed by security guard
We continue to get worrisome news from the Villa Meri asylum reception center of Rauma. An asylum seeker at the center, who is a minor, was peppered sprayed on Friday and taken to the hospital. Why? Because he protested that his sister, who came from Helsinki to visit him, had to leave the center.
Read on »Migrant Tales begins cooperation with Asylum Corner
Migrant Tales will begin cooperation by beginning to publish stories by Asylum Corner, the newsletter of Lai-Momo, an Italian cooperative society based in Bologna, Italy, and Brussels. Like Migrant Tales, Asylum Corner writes about topics like migrants’ integration, asylum seekers assistance, intercultural and anti-discrimination education. Lai-Momo information and communication officer Claudia Mará took a moment to explain
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker gets asylum application turned down as his family members are attacked by the militia
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) is planning to reassess the security situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia after an initial assessment in May deemed these countries to be safe to return asylum seekers.
Read on »Is Somalia a “safe” country and do asylum seekers want to die in vain?
In light of the assessment published by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in May, where it claims that countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia are “safe” to return asylum seekers we strongly challenge such a claim. I challenge Migri’s assessment because it is political and has little to do with reality.
Read on »Two Iraqi asylum seekers who returned to “safe” Iraq and were killed
In May and much to the surprise of many, especially asylum seekers and concerned citizens, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) announced that countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia were safe enough to return asylum seekers.
Read on »UPDATE: Problems at Rauma’s Villa Meri asylum reception persist and have gotten worse
In March, Migrant Tales reported about the problems at the Villa Meri asylum reception of Rauma, a western Finnish city located 91 kilometers north of Turku. Some of these problems, which were cited back then, persist and have apparently gotten worse.
Read on »Migrant Tales’ hindsight column: Two stories that are supposed to wither away
Two stories published by Migrant Tales revealed how the Keuruu asylum reception center prohibited religious and cultural celebrations. Both of the reception centers are run by the Red Cross.
Read on »UNITED List of Deaths presented at MoMA exhibition
UNITED’s List of Deaths, which includes the details of over 22,000 migrants and refugees who died due to the fatal policies of Fortress Europe, has been included in the exhibition “Insecurities: Tracing Displacement and Shelter” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Read on »Two stories, two versions about an incident involving asylum seekers in Finland
Two stories, two versions. One by Migrant Tales where asylum seekers allege that a white Finnish driver in a GMC SUV tried to hit them and another one in Mikkeli-based Länsi Savo where the police suspect a traffic dispute that led to an argument where one asylum seeker got hit in the head.
Read on »The number of undocumented migrants in Finland will soar “by the thousands”
In the face of a thousands of new undocumented migrants in Finland, permanent secretary of the interior ministry, Päivi Nerg, was quoted as saying Jyväskylä-based Keskisuomalainen that no emergency accommodation should be offered to these migrants because “it would send the wrong message.”
Read on »Police now investigate the death of a young Iraqi asylum seeker in Finland
Migrant Tales reported Monday about the tragic death of a young Iraqi asylum seeker who allegedly took his life after his asylum request was turned down by the Finnish Immigration Service. While it’s been known since Sunday about the death of the asylum seeker, it is surprising how slowly the media and police operate.
Read on »UPDATED: Iraqi asylum seeker takes his life after getting a negative decision from the Finnish Immigration Service
Migrant Tales has heard that an Iraqi asylum seeker took his life on Sunday after the Finnish Immigration Service turned down his request for asylum. The death of the man, which was posted in Facebook, shows how difficult the situation is for some asylum seekers.
Migrant Tales published in August a story about a young Iraqi asylum seeker who attempted to take his life spoke on condition of anonymity.
“Obviously, there’s a big difference between the situation now and the situation [in Finland] 7 months ago,” he said. “In the past, we heard that applications for asylum were never rejected. But now, out of a hundred people… only two to four get asylum. We are not told why.”
Read on »Single mother Iraqi asylum seeker with two children plead for help to not be deported from Finland
Migrant Tales got a phone call Thursday from an Iraqi woman* who spoke a few words of English. “Do you speak German?” she asked.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker allegedly attacked by four Finns at the Kontula shopping center of Eastern Helsinki
Migrant Tales understands that a young Iraqi asylum seeker was allegedly attacked from behind by two men and two women at about 2am on Sunday at the Kontula shopping center of Eastern Helsinki. The young man, who was found unconscious by the police, was taken to a hospital but released later. “The asylum seeker was
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker Majid*: The Finnish Immigration Service made me lose all hope, that’s why I wanted to take my life
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon of June when Migrant Tales met Majid, an Iraqi asylum seeker who attempted to take his life after he had lost all hope and everything changed for the young man.
Read 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!
Read on »In the asylum seekers’ eyes
Muh’ed Today I visited a Finnish-language class of asylum seekers silently worrying day by day. The Finnish-language teacher, a man, asked me to speak to them in the Finnish language, and tell about my life in Finland. I spoke slow Finnish, I told them who I am. How long I have lived in Finland and
Read on »Asylum seekers in Finland: New law that will shorten the time of appeal is a “cowardly” act
President Sauli Niinistö signed into law Friday a bill that will make it virtually impossible for refugees to appeal asylum cases rejected by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), according to YLE News. While the Finnish media hasn’t cared to ask what asylum seekers think about the new law, Migrant Tales got in touch with two asylum seekers about the matter.
Read on »Anti-immigration racism in Finland isn’t more common now
Anti-immigration racism in Finland isn’t more common now, it’s showing its face thanks to the government’s shameful indifference towards asylum seekers and social media. Will you stop squirting us [with blood]? Cartoon by Ville Ranta. Source: Valomerkki.
Read on »Housing discrimination occurs in Finland and is underreported by the media
A news story in YLE News about housing for immigrants highlights one area where discrimination is rife and unreported by the media. Contrary to discrimination in the labor market and at night clubs, reported by YLE, housing is another area where migrants and minorities face discrimination.
Read on »Skärpt asylpolitik – Hur behandlas asylansökningarna?
Låg och bläddrade igenom min Facebook då jag stötte på ett inlägg som en av mina Facebook vänner hade delat – Skärpt asylpolitik känns konkret på förläggningarna heter artikeln som Svenska Yle har publicerats och som handlar om asylsökanden i Finland och hur dessa ansökan behandlas. Som vi alla vet så har det varit mycket
Read on »We have the means to challenge and beat xenophobia and fascism in today’s Europe
Even if we should be concerned about the rise of xenophobia and fascism, which disguises itself with populist anti-immigration rhetoric in Europe, there’s one matter that should worry us the most: silence and apathy.
Read on »Live coverage of Oikeus elää – A Right to live الحق للعيش demonstration
Writes Beri Jamal: Today is an important day for humanity and for all refugees who have received a judgment to be sent back to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. We want to protest against this decision that these countries are not safe for them to return to. Let us participate and influence the decision, let our voices reach to the authorities and tell them that this decision is unfair approved and is against all humanity!
Read on »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.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker hunger strike: Before and after
Namir al-Azzawi was on hunger strike for nine days. On those two days he fainted and was sent to the hospital on Wednesday and Sunday. Migrant Tales spoke to him on Friday.
Read on »Finland tightens family reunification laws and denies migrants the right to a family
The Finnish parliament didn’t vote Friday to tighten even further family reunification guidelines but effectively socially excluded and relegated migrants, especially asylum seekers, to second- and third-class citizens. The news ironically coincides with the death of former Rural Party MP Sulo Aittoniemi (1936-2016), a person who was against refugees and cultural diversity.
Read on »Thulfiqar Abdulkareem Abdulameer: My story
Last year I was 27 years old, working as a journalist in my hometown Baghdad, where I had studied business administration. I wrote an article about the war, and how the militias were sending young, untrained guys to fight against ISIS who were well equipped with modern weapons. I wrote that it was like sending these young fighters to their deaths.
Read on »Namir al-Azzawi ends hunger strike after nine days
After nine days Namir al-Azzawi ended today his hunger strike citing “health reasons” and “because nobody cared,” according to a Facebook posting. Al-Azzawi was taken to hospital two times last week after fainting on Wednesday and Sunday.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker hunger strike: Video of Namir al-Azzawi
The video below is of Namir al-Azzawi, an Iraqi asylum seeker who began a hunger strike on Sunday, was made before he fainted and was sent to the hospital on Wednesday.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker hunger strike: Namir al-Azawin taken to intensive care
We are saddened to inform the following news about Namir al-Azzawin, who has been on a hunger strike for three days. Writes Zimema Mhone: “I just got word that Namir fainted and was taken to intensive care.” Al-Azzawin wrote a letter on Sunday addressed to the people of Finland: Dear People of Finland, I started my
Read on »Zimema Mhone: Iraqi asylum seeker hunger strike day 2
When I woke up this morning, I did not know that I would be spending the afternoon with one of the most courageous people I have ever met in person. I went down to see Namir al-Azzawin, an Iraqi asylum seeker, after reading about his hunger strike last night on Migrant Tales.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker hunger strike day 1: “Iraq wasn’t and still isn’t safe”
Dear People of Finland, I started my hunger strike on Sunday in protest of the unfair decision by the Immigration Authorities (Migri), which claim that countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia are safe to return asylum seekers. Many of us Iraqis were disappointed by the decision taking into account that we fled that country because
Read on »Kolari reception center asylum seeker: Matters have improved because the new manager is very supportive
After a very difficult month, matters are looking up for the asylum seekers of the Kolari reception center, located 214 kilometers north of the city of Kemi. “Matters have really improved for us and the new manager wants to help us,” an asylum seeker told Migrant Tales by phone. “He’s very supportive.”
Read on »Two pictures and a video of Wednesday’s peaceful demonstration in Helsinki by Iraqi asylum seekers
Below are two pictures and a video of today’s peaceful demonstration in Helsinki by Iraqi asylum seekers protesting a new a new Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) assessment that alleges that countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia are today safe for asylum seekers to return.
Read on »Helsinki and Kemi demonstrations by Iraqi asylum seekers considered “successful” by their organizers
Two peaceful demonstrations by Iraqi asylum seekers took place Wednesday in Helsinki and Kemi to protest a Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) assessment that countries like Iraq are safe for asylum seekers, according to the organizers.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seekers to demonstrate in Helsinki and Kemi Wednesday at 1pm
Iraqi and some Syrian asylum seekers are planning to demonstrate peacefully Wednesday in Helsinki and the northern Finnish city of Kemi against a new assessment by the Finnish Immigration Service (Mgri), which sees countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia safe enough to return asylum seekers.
Read on »Institute of Race Relations: Denmark – creating a hostile environment
Nearly 300 people face criminal charges for aiding refugees in Denmark in September 2015, and the government continues to create a hostile environment by cracking down on migration.
Read on »Kolari asylum seekers “very happy” about the closure of the reception center
A number of asylum seekers at the Kolari reception center expressed happiness about plans by the Finnish Immigration Service to close Finland’s northernmost center on November 31.
Read on »How the Finnish police and media play down hate crimes
Violence against asylum seekers is nothing new in Finland. We’ve read about arson attacks against asylum reception centers and now the head of a reception center in Lahti, who claims that between five and ten residents have been physically attacked by groups of Finnish men, according to YLE News.
Read on »Kolari asylum seeker: Matters haven’t improved at all at the reception center
Even if the deputy manager of the Kolari asylum reception center, Jari Sillantie, got fired on Thursday, matters at the camp haven’t gotten any better, according to an asylum seeker contacted by Migrant Tales.
Read on »What former Kolari asylum reception center deputy manager “likes” on Facebook (and it’s not pretty)
Finland was hard pressed to set up reception centers last year to house some 32,500 asylum seekers. In that quest, it’s understandable that some mistakes were made when hiring staff. What is commendable is that the Finnish Immigration Service succeeded at finding a reception center place for each of the asylum seekers.
Read on »YLE: Red Cross sacks Kolari asylum reception center deputy manager
Special thanks to Rovaniemi-based daily Lapin Kansa, YLE and Helsingin Sanomat that some solution to the ordeal of 129 asylum seekers at the Kolari reception center has led with the sacking of Jari Sillantie, the deputy manager of the camp, according to YLE. One of the biggest complaints that the asylum seekers had was Sillantie.
Read on »Rebuttal to Helsingin Sanomat concerning the Kolari asylum reception center story
Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s largest daily, published Monday a story without interviewing a single asylum seeker at the Kolari reception center never mind yours truly about how this story emerged and developed.
Read on »What’s going on at the Kolari, Finland, asylum reception center?
There’s been a lot of news as of late from the small town of Kolari, where the location of Finland’s northernmost asylum center is. If I were forced to live there, I would probably go crazy too.
Read on »About 120 asylum seekers from the Kolari reception center in Finland protested against bad treatment
Migrant Tales understands that some 120 asylum seekers at the Kolari asylum reception center have walked out in protest for the poor treatment they get at the center. There were only four asylum seekers that did not participate in the protest, according to a source.
Read on »Pictures from the Kolari asylum reception center in Finland
Migrant Tales understands that the authorities of the Kolari asylum reception center are annoyed at a story that was published in this blog about the center. The biggest gripe that the asylum seekers had was the manager, who allegedly treats the inhabitants with disrespect and threatens them that they won’t get a residence permit. One resident
Read on »Kolari, Finland, asylum reception center: It costs to “live in hell”
An asylum seeker at the Kolari asylum reception center, located about 80km north of the Arctic Circle, described it as “living in hell.” Migrant Tales has found out that of the small 92.50-euro monthly allowance, the asylum seekers are required to pay for many things.
Read on »The 1 + 1 = 2 types who post racist comments
Who can understand the logic of people who post racist things and exercise a very basic 1+1=2 argument? Some of these are reactions to a recent blog posting on Migrant Tales, The Kolari, Finland, asylum reception center “is a living hell.”
Read on »The Kolari, Finland, asylum recepetion center “is a living hell”
Kolari is a town of 3,857 people located 166km north of Tornio and about 80km north of the Arctic Circle. The town also has an asylum reception that houses about 150 people, or 5% of the town’s population, located 4-5km from the town center.
Read on »More alleged abuses of asylum seekers by Barona security guards
Migrant Tales continues hearing disturbing news about the poor treatment by Barona security guards and the Finnish police of asylum seekers.
Read on »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.
Read on »Canadian Aboriginal activist and cross-cultural expert Sandi Boucher visits Finland
There was a historic encounter in Finland last week when the first ever visitor of North America’s Ojibwe Nation, Sandi Boucher, came to meetings in Helsinki during UN Anti-Racism Week.
Read on »A formal complaint by five asylum seeker at Luona’s reception center sheds light on alleged “gross abuses”
Abuses at the asylum reception centers run by Luona have come to light from the occupants who consider their alleged treatment by the staff of the private company as “gross abuses” and a breach of their “human dignity” and “rights.”
Read on »Is Barona’s fast-track employment scheme “a joke?”
Helsingin Sanomat, Finland largest daily, published a story this month about three Eritreans who had found work at a logistics company in Vantaa thanks to a fast-track employment scheme at Barona, an employment agency that owns Luona, a private subsidiary that manages eight asylum reception centers in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Hyvinkää.
Read on »More problems and issues at the Villa Meri asylum reception center of Rauma, Finland
Migrant Tales reported Tuesday about problems at the Villa Meri asylum reception center in Rauma. We have now got a hold of the complaint made by the asylum seeker on hunger strike to the parliamentary ombudsman.
Read on »Recovering Afghan who attempted suicide wants to leave Finland
The 23-24-year-old Afghan, who attempted to take his life Friday night, is recovering at a hospital and has asked to be deported from Finland after he recovers, according to a source contacted by Migrant Tales.
Read on »Two new suicide cases involving asylum seekers in Finland not reported by the media
After the tragic news of two asylum seekers that attempted to take their lives on Friday at Luona’s asylum reception center in Espoo, Migrant Tales has learned of two suicide cases that occurred and weren’t reported by the media.
Read on »Human trafficking – get ready for another onslaught of xenophobia and labeling
Should we be surprised that YLE is planning another one-sided “debate” in April concerning human trafficking. The problem with this type of “debate,” like the one before that on March 2 on how asylum seekers have fueled uncertainty in Finland, is that it follows a common narrative that white Finland has of Otherness: You are a threat and a problem.
Read on »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.
Read on »How “safe and reliable” is the Finnish police towards asylum seekers?
How are asylum seekers treated in Finland by the police? One would hope that it would be in a humane and respectful manner. Migrant Tales has published two stories about asylum seekers being handcuffed and locked up in a police cell for many hours for what we’d consider minor offenses.
Read on »Our image of Finland to asylum seekers is too rosy and full of myths that expose ethnocentrism and hypocrisy
As a sociologist, it’s interesting to note how Finland portrays itself to outsiders. One of these presentations is a three-volume Beginners guide to Finland published by the Finnish Immigration Service (FIS). Just like the populist catchphrase maassa maan tavalla, in Rome do as the Romans do, asylum seekers and migrants are being fed myths about ourselves.
Read on »Luona claims that it has zero tolerance for racism but can you teach a racist dog new tricks?
General manager Milja Saksi of Luona, a private company that operates seven asylum reception centers in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa, claims to have taken necessary steps to address the racist treatment of its asylum seekers, according to YLE.
Read on »Never underestimate – even in Finland – the power of the word and fearless investigative journalism
The power of the word and fearless investigative journalism does pay off even in countries like Finland. Today YLE published a big story about the abuses and poor treatment that asylum seekers get at the reception centers run by Luona, a private company.
Read on »Iraqi asylum seeker: The first Finnish word I learned was “vittu”
It’s a Sunday and we’re at a fast-food Middle Eastern restaurant in the heart of Helsinki. I have an appointment with a twenty-six-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker who came to Finland in September via Tornio and who is staying at one of Luona’s asylum reception centers. Like many who have the misfortune of staying at a reception center run by Luona, he too isn’t happy about the poor and humiliating treatment he’s getting.
Read on »Why are so many Iraqi asylum seekers abandoning Finland?
According to some sources, a large number of asylum seekers from countries like Iraq are leaving Finland and going back home. Considering that two-thirds of the Iraqis that came to Finland last year are young single men, it’s nothing odd that some are returning.
Read on »How the Finnish Immigration Service’s fast-track scheme will deport thousands of asylum seekers from Finland in 2016
What would a country like Finland, which prefers to be an island in Europe and where too many still see cultural diversity with suspicion, do if a record number of asylum seekers from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia came here like in 2015?
Read on »Scaremongering by the PS of Finland is always at full swing
Finland’s Perussuomalaiset (PS)* defense minister, Jussi Niinistö, believes that up to one million “illegal” immigrants could come to Finland, according to YLE News. Niinistö, a historian who has played down the role of fascist associations like the Lapua Movement (1929-32), fear-mongers to shore up support for his ailing party.
Read on »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.
Read on »Finland’s wishful thinking of populism and racism
Compared with four or six years ago, the level of xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiment has reached fever pitch. There is so much news against asylum seekers and our ever-growing culturally diverse community that it’s on some weeks difficult to keep up with what is being said.
Read on »Does Luona treat asylum seekers with dignity or as livestock?
Finland saw a record number of asylum seekers come to the country last year. These 32,500 people that traveled far from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia, have found temporary housing in asylum reception centers. Who watches over, never mind defends, their rights?
Read on »BOX STORY: Mohammed Saleh Muhsin
Mohammed Saleh Muhsin, 26, is one of the many thousands of young Iraqi asylum seekers that came to Finland in the fall. Like many of his countrymen, he too speaks of the violence and strife strangling Iraq. He spoke to Migrant Tales about his treatment at two of Luona’s reception centers. “I arrived on September 23
Read on »Was the death of an Afghani asylum seeker at Luona’s reception center due to negligence?
Migrant Tales published on Friday a story where it asked about the circumstances of the death of an asylum seeker, Jayyed Abbas Jaffari (1995-2016), in early January that was staying at Luona’s reception center in Espoo. Was there negligence or not by the private company that runs reception centers in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa?
Read on »Finland must get off its whining horse and seek proactive solutions to the asylum seeker situation
Like many anti-immigration politicians, even former National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero believes that there is some magic number that we shouldn’t cross concerning the number of asylum seekers that arrive to our country. In 2015, a record 32,000 asylum seekers came to Finland. How many arrive this year is an open question.
Read on »The Perussuomalaiset decade (2011-19): Finland’s rendezvous with xenophobia and nationalism
Here’s the question we all know the answer to concerning the rise and fall of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party during this decade: We accomplished nothing, absolutely nothing, polarized society, scapegoated migrants and Muslims and lied through our teeth with poker faces. Our decade-long rendezvous with right-wing populism and xenophobia has had a negative political and
Read on »The “Denmarkization” of Finnish immigration policy
The Perussuomalaiset (PS) are eager to pass legislation that will not only hurt asylum seekers but all migrants and minorities that live in Finland. After breaking almost all of their campaign promises and after their poll rating have plummeted to single-digit percentages, the PS only have one trump card left in their political bag of tricks: anti-immigration rhetoric and policy.
Read on »President Sauli Niinistö’s “ultimatum” to asylum seekers should apply to Finns as well
President Sauli Niinistö said Saturday during a YLE Radio 1 question-and-answer session that those asylum seekers that don’t abide by our core vales should leave Finland.
Read on »Are asylum seekers escaping war now the target of arson attacks in Finland?
A building which was supposed to house asylum seekers in Niinisalo has been burned, according to tabloid Iltalehti.
Read on »Finland’s and fortress Europe’s razorblade chicken feed response to the refugee crisis
Finland and Europe are looking more lost than ever concerning the refugee crisis and this has been shamelessly exposed in the raw at the EU’s Malta summit. If we fail in resolving the crisis as a region we will face another problem that will be many times worse than what is happening now: Fuel and stoke the fires of xenophobia at the cost of our values.
Read on »UPDATE (October 6): 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. October 6 A2 Pakolais-ilta (YLE) What was wrong with this television debate? Even if one of the hosts on the program was Wali Hashi, it was
Read on »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.
Read on »Perussuomalaiset party wants Finland to turn back asylum seekers from Sweden
The populist anti-immigration Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party’s parliamentary group wants to turn back asylum seekers that are entering the country from Sweden to the northern city of Tornio, reports YLE in English. The PS are the only party in Finland making such a demand.
Read on »Dear little boy washed ashore…
In May we learned about a Dear little girl at sea who was kind enough to look the other way as she floated lifelessly in Mediterranean waters.
Read on »When does a trickle become a flood when speaking of refugees?
When we speak of refugees, when does a trickle become a flood? Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Olli Immonen, the far right politician who warned us recently about the “nightmare of multiculturalism,” who uses and warns us of “an avalanche” of refugees since 1,000 more refugees came to the country in July versus the same period last year.
Read on »Finnish PS MP Olli Immonen takes swipe at asylum seekers, migrants and minorities
Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Olli Immonen is at it again after his xenophobic Facebook posting about “the nightmare of multiculturalism.” This time he is taking a swipe at asylum seekers. He uses terms like “uncontrolled” and “avalanche” to promote his brand of xenophobic and far right hostility not only against asylum seekers, but against Finland’s ever-growing culturally and ethnically diverse community.
Read on »Who would you believe? PS MP Hakkarainen or the little girl at sea?
Who would it be? Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Teuvo Hakkarainen who got reelected below for claiming that newcomers should adapt or ship out of Finland and “a sharp no to asylum tourism,” or the silence of a little girl at sea? Yes, right, this is the very PS MP who sent an SMS message wth a picture of
Read on »Amnesty International cites (again) Finland’s human rights violations against refugee, migrant and transgender rights
Amnesty International criticized Finland in a 2014-15 country report on human rights violations for its treatment of asylum seekers, migrants, transgender people and conscientious objectors, according to YLE in English. It said that police inaction agains women and girls was another cause for concern. Should we be surprised? Not really. Finland has had a poor
Read on »Institute of Race Relations: Language testing of asylum claimants – a flawed approach
By Aisha Maniar Following a critical Supreme Court judgment on the Home Office’s use of controversial language analysis tests to determine the nationality of asylum seekers, Aisha Maniar asks: why does the government insist on using these tests? Read orginal posting here. Language is a crucial element of the identity of each and every one
Read on »Finland’s interior minister wants more quota refugees in 2015
Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen of Finland, who considers homosexuality to be a sin and wants to tighten immigration laws, said on YLE that she would like to raise the number of quota refugees next year by 300 to 1,050 from 750. While this is welcome news, especially for the few hundred refugees that will get a new
Read on »Four in five Swedes express concern over xenophobia
Swedes are more worried about the rise of xenophobia in their country than the ever-growing number of immigrants, according to The Local, citing a study by the SOM Institute of Gothenburg University. The survey revealed that while 49% expressed concern over immigration levels, 78% were worried about the rise of xenophobia. Read full story here.
Read on »Interior minister’s plan to close legal “loophole” would increase the number of undocumented migrants in Finland
Christian Democrat Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen has a dubious reputation in Finland for her homophobic and conservative religious views. In her latest attack against refugees, Räsänen writes that when an asylum-seeker gets a negative decision and doesn’t want to leave the country, the Finnish Immigration Service is required to give a residence permit if the person
Read on »Finland had 3,238 asylum seekers in 2013
A total of 3,238 people applied for asylum in Finland compared with 3,129 people in the previous year, according to the Finnish Immigration Service. The largest single group of asylum seekers was Iraqis (819) followed by Russians (226) and Somalis (217). The number of asylum seekers coming to Finland oscillated between 1,500 and 6,000 over the
Read on »The PS are now hoping that Kouvola stops receiving asylum seekers and quota refugees by 2016
If you believe that the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party has toned down its xenophobia and loathing towards refugees, check out what they are doing in the municipality of Kouvola. According to the local daily, Kouvolan Sanomat, the PS wants the city council to stop receiving asylum seekers and quota refugees by 2016. While the PS blame
Read on »Switzerland restricts the movement of asylum seekers in the town of Bremgarten
The Swiss town of Bremgarten, located about 16km from Zurich, has banned asylum seekers from swimming pools, sports facilities and other sites, according to Spiegel Online International. The agreement, which has been criticized by human rights groups, was made by the Swiss Office of Migration (BfM) and the town. Read original story here. It’s
Read on »How tabloids like Ilta-Sanomat reinforce our prejudices against immigrants and refugees
Tabloids like Ilta-Sanomat have a lot to learn about fairness, which is the cornerstone of all good news reporting. But tabloids aren’t interested in fairness but in sensationalism. A story by Ilta-Sanomat is headlined: ”Two Somalis use [fake] Yemeni passports to travel to Finland.” Even if the story suggests that these Somalis are committing a crime
Read on »Edward Snowden would help to put to rest Finland’s Cold War legacy
Wikileaks said in a statement that whistleblower Edward Snowden had asked for political asylum in twenty-one countries, one of which included Finland. Understanding Finland’s history and its historic suspicion of foreigners, granting a high-profile asylum seeker like Snowden asylum in Finland would not only help to put to rest for good our poor record but have
Read on »A “Welcome to Finland” video that is racist and insulting
Thanks to two friends, I was able to watch a “Welcome to Finland” video funded by the Finnish and Swedish film boards as well as the Nordic Children and Youth Committee. Writes Ilona: “You don’t need to speak the [Finnish] language to understand the depth of shameful, racist humiliation being enacted here.” You can watch
Read on »Women for Refugee Women: ‘The dream I hope and strive for’
Helen came to the UK 9 years ago after she was imprisoned in Ethiopia for her political activities. She claimed asylum but was refused, and looks after herself and her three children on £50 a week. I’ve been in the UK since 2003. I have three children aged one, two and four. Things have got
Read on »YLE in English: Three Afghani asylum seekers continue hunger strike
Three Afghani asylum seekers been on hunger strike since September 10 after their applications for asylum were rejected by the authorities, writes YLE in English. The three asylum seekers have appealed the Finnish Immigration Service decision to the administrative court. One of the asylum seekers, Abdullahi Gulamesdiq, said that he fears for his life in
Read on »Pasta macaroni: a 1-2-euro meal in Finland
Asylum seekers and immigrants are very resourceful people when it comes to stretching their small allowances. Pasta macaroni is a common meal among some immigrants and doesn’t cost very much to make. You can feed yourself for only 1-2 euros. Taking into account the high cost of living and low allowances that asylum seekers and
Read on »Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 criticizes Finland for accelerated asylum procedures
Amnesty International (AI) has criticized Finland in its Annual Report 2012 for accelerated asylum procedures, which include forced returns to Baghdad, according to YLE. The report noted as well that Finland was unable to provide figures on how many irregular migrants and asylum-seekers it detained during the year. AI reports: “However, there were concerns that
Read on »UN and ECHR stop Finland from deporting torture victims
The European Court of Human Rights and the UN Committee against Torture have stopped the deportation of a number of asylum seekers in Finland in the last months, reports Helsingin Sanomat. Calls by different NGOs to the end to such deportations appears to have had an impact.
Read on »YLE in English: Finland tells gay asylum seekers to get back in the closet
Finland has deported asylum seekers to countries where they could be put to death for their sexual orientation, in violation of international agreements. Some have been told to conceal their sexuality to ensure they remain safe.
Read on »Finland also locks up asylum seeker children
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- A child in the Joutseno Immigration Removal Center.
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