ENAR-Finland: Racism in Finland 2008

ENAR-Finland:
Percy Mashaire and Jonna Roos: Shadow report 2008 - Racism in Finland (pdf)

This report covers the time period from January 1st to December 31st 2008. One significant development towards the end of 2008 was a notable rise in anti-immigrant/refugee sentiments (particularly on the internet), which coincided with the rise in popularity of Timo Soini’s True Finns party, an anti-EU and anti-immigrant xenophobic outfit, which in 2007 doubled its share of the popular vote from 2003, and increased its shared of seats in parliament from three to five seats. Closely related was also the rising popularity of Jussi Hala-aho, a strident critic of immigration and multiculturalism, who secured close to 3 000 votes during the 2008 municipal elections. Halla-aho contested the elections as a nonparty member of the True Finns Party, and belongs to Suomi Sisu, a rightwing nationalist organization. He is currently facing charges of blasphemy (against Islam) and ethnic incitement to hatred against the Somali community.
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