{"id":688,"date":"2011-04-28T00:17:52","date_gmt":"2011-04-27T23:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/?p=688"},"modified":"2014-05-22T21:30:26","modified_gmt":"2014-05-22T20:30:26","slug":"finnish-politics-transformed-by-muslim-immigration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/2011\/04\/28\/finnish-politics-transformed-by-muslim-immigration\/","title":{"rendered":"Muslim Immigration Transforms Finnish Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/finland-true-finns-mosque-campaign-soeren-kern.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-689\" title=\"finland true finns mosque campaign soeren kern\" src=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/finland-true-finns-mosque-campaign-soeren-kern.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Finland\u2019s political map has been redrawn in the aftermath of parliamentary elections on April 17, when the nationalist True Finns Party won more votes than the governing party and now stands on the cusp of political power.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Muslim Immigration Transforms Finnish Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Soeren Kern | <a title=\"Muslim Immigration Transforms Finnish Politics\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gatestoneinstitute.org\/2075\/finland-muslim-immigration\" target=\"_blank\">Hudson New York<\/a> | April 28, 2011<\/p>\n<p>Finland\u2019s political map has been redrawn in the aftermath of parliamentary elections on April 17, when the nationalist <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/True_Finns\" target=\"_blank\">True Finns Party<\/a> won more votes than the governing party and now stands on the cusp of political power.<\/p>\n<p>The surge of the True Finns Party, which campaigned on a platform of opposition to Muslim immigration and further European integration, reflects growing voter disenchantment with multiculturalism and the ruling establishment\u2019s fixation with the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>The final vote results show the populist True Finns Party finishing third place with 39 seats in Finland\u2019s 200-seat Parliament, just behind the center-right <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Coalition_Party_%28Finland%29\" target=\"_blank\">National Coalition Party<\/a> with 43 seats and the center-left <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland\" target=\"_blank\">Social Democrats<\/a> with 42 seats. The governing <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Centre_Party_%28Finland%29\" target=\"_blank\">Center Party<\/a> lost 16 seats and ended up with 24 seats.<\/p>\n<p>As the largest vote-getter, the National Coalition Party has been given the first chance to form a government, and the party leader <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jyrki_Katainen\" target=\"_blank\">Jyrki Katainen<\/a>, set to be Finland\u2019s next prime minister, said \u201cit is our duty to form a majority government.\u201d He is now negotiating with the True Finns and the Social Democrats to build a governing coalition.<\/p>\n<p>Support for the True Finns, led by charismatic leader <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timo_Soini\" target=\"_blank\">Timo Soini<\/a>, has nearly quadrupled its share of the vote from 4% to 19% since the last parliamentary elections in 2007. Using a catchy campaign slogan (kansa tiet\u00e4\u00e4 &#8212; the people know), the party has harvested popular anger over issues ranging from bailouts of debt-laden European countries like Greece, Ireland and Portugal to unemployment and immigration, especially from Muslim countries.<\/p>\n<p>Although Europe\u2019s political establishment and the mainstream news media have variously branded the True Finns as \u201cfar-right,\u201d \u201cracist,\u201d \u201cxenophobic,\u201d and \u201cfascist\u201d because of the party\u2019s opposition to immigration, in reality the party does not fit neatly into any political grouping. The True Finns <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helsinkitimes.fi\/htimes\/helsinki\/business-hub\/14484-the-true-finns-and-the-economy.html\" target=\"_blank\">combine left-wing economic policies<\/a> (the party defends the welfare state, for example, and favors raising taxes to do so) with conservative social values (Soini is a devout Roman Catholic). The party has been <a href=\"http:\/\/web.eduskunta.fi\/dman\/Document.phx?documentId=gd32110112615392&amp;cmd=download\" target=\"_blank\">placed on the center-left in the parliamentary seating order<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, both the National Coalition Party and the Social Democrats <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/english\/article\/NEWS+ANALYSIS+Frequent+updates+for+parties%E2%80%99+immigration+platforms\/1135259056651\" target=\"_blank\">have adopted many of the anti-immigration positions<\/a> held by the True Finns. For example, the National Coalition Party has called for \u201crealism in asylum policy, resources for integration\u201d and the Social Democratic Party has set a goal for \u201ccontrolled immigration.\u201d And members of all three parties have voiced their concerns about immigration and the threat it poses to Finnish culture and identity.<\/p>\n<p>Nor is immigration the exclusive concern of only one type of Finnish voter. According to a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/english\/article\/Survey+Finns%E2%80%99+attitudes+toward+immigration+have+become+more+negative\/1135254422096\" target=\"_blank\">recent survey<\/a> commissioned by the <em>Helsingin Sanomat<\/em> newspaper and conducted by Suomen Gallup, Finns of all political persuasions and socio-economic classes are concerned about immigration. The polling data shows that nearly 60 percent of Finns are opposed to immigration. That number is up from 44 percent in 2009 and 36 percent in 2007.<\/p>\n<p>Immigrants make up about 4 percent of the Finnish population, which is relatively low by European standards. There are an estimated 60,000 Muslims in Finland, which has a population of just over 5 million. The Muslim population has increased rapidly in recent years, due largely to immigration, and there are now dozens of Islamic communities in the country. As in other European countries, the debate over immigration centers on growing concerns about the failure of Muslim immigrants to integrate into Finland and learn the language.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/islam-classes-finland-soeren-kern1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-697 size-full\" title=\"islam classes finland soeren kern\" src=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/islam-classes-finland-soeren-kern1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"553\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/islam-classes-finland-soeren-kern1.jpg 553w, https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/islam-classes-finland-soeren-kern1-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 553px) 100vw, 553px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A case in point is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.islam-qa.com\/en\/ref\/110455\" target=\"_blank\">request by Muslims in Finland for a fatwa<\/a> (Islamic legal ruling) on how they should live in their newly adopted country. The fatwa was issued by Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajid, a well-known Saudi Arabian expert on Islamic Sharia law who in 2008 issued a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ynetnews.com\/articles\/0,7340,L-3597638,00.html\" target=\"_blank\">fatwa to kill Mickey Mouse<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He says: \u201cYou have to be aware that you are living in a Christian society, a Christian country, whose flag bears the cross! \u2026 It should be a priority of Islamic groups and political parties, especially those that are trying to establish an Islamic state, as we said, to preserve the identity of the Muslims who are living there. One of the most important means of preserving their identity is for Muslim men to marry Muslim women and to strive to create an Islamic atmosphere in their social lives. In the Islamic parties and organizations there should be people who direct the Muslims\u2019 private matters such as marriage, divorce and social relationships in accordance with the laws of Allah.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That is already happening. According to some reports, Muslim children in Finnish schools often are not allowed to take part in school activities such as singing and dancing, which are considered religious. Oftentimes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.puhettamaahanmuutosta.fi\/koti_islam_ja_isanmaa\/-_smaller_school_classes_for_children_with_immigrant_background\" target=\"_blank\">immigrant children play the race card<\/a> if a solution to a conflict does not go in their favor or if a teacher rebukes the child.<\/p>\n<p>In December 2010, the Islamic Society of Finland, which is headquartered in downtown Helsinki, complained that the country\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/yle.fi\/uutiset\/news\/2010\/12\/muslims_need_more_space_2252761.html\" target=\"_blank\">Muslims are running out of places to worship<\/a> as their numbers grow. Finland\u2019s only officially consecrated mosque is located in the town of J\u00e4rvenp\u00e4\u00e4, some 40 kilometers north of Helsinki.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2011, the Islamic Society of Finland <a href=\"http:\/\/yle.fi\/uutiset\/news\/2011\/03\/expert_imam_education_requires_rethink_2412201.html\" target=\"_blank\">called for the government to provide university-level courses for the country\u2019s imams<\/a>. There are around 40 to 50 imams in Finland both teaching and conducting religious services at mosques and prayer rooms. Their educational backgrounds vary. \u201cMany have studied in their communities or in their home countries. What\u2019s needed is a degree from an institute of higher education for all imams,\u201d says Anas Hajjar, an imam with the Islamic Society of Finland.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, ethnic Finns have been leaving immigrant-heavy neighborhoods to find more suitable housing elsewhere. According to some studies, Finland\u2019s largest cities have developed areas where <a href=\"http:\/\/yle.fi\/uutiset\/news\/2011\/01\/population_in_flux_in_immigrant-heavy_city_areas_2307718.html\" target=\"_blank\">more than one-fifth of the population is of foreign origin<\/a>. As native Finns move out of areas with significant immigrant populations, they are reducing the size of the population capable of paying taxes, leaving behind only those consuming welfare services, according to the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/kotimaa\/artikkeli\/Maahanmuuttajien+t%C3%A4ytt%C3%A4m%C3%A4t+koulut+eiv%C3%A4t+kelpaa+suomalaisille\/1135250145281?ref=rss\" target=\"_blank\">Helsingin Sanomat<\/a><\/em> newspaper.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/muslims-praying-in-public-library-finland-soeren-kern1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-698 size-full\" title=\"muslims praying in public library finland soeren kern\" src=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/muslims-praying-in-public-library-finland-soeren-kern1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/muslims-praying-in-public-library-finland-soeren-kern1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/muslims-praying-in-public-library-finland-soeren-kern1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Much of the problem revolves around Finland\u2019s immigration policy, which is one of the most liberal in Europe. This was highlighted in November 2009, when <em>Egypt Today<\/em> magazine published a story titled \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/tisfoon.irandefence.net\/showthread.php?t=54061\" target=\"_blank\">Welcome to Finland<\/a>\u201d which portrayed Finland as a paradise for Muslim immigration.<\/p>\n<p>According to <em>Egypt Today<\/em>: \u201cTara Ahmed, a 25-year-old Kurdish woman, came with her husband to Finland seven years ago to work. \u2018There are a lot of services offered to us here,\u2019 she says. \u2018Plus, during my seven years I haven\u2019t had one single harassment, assault or discrimination case in any form.\u2019 Like most immigrants, Ahmed and her husband took advantage of the free Finnish language lessons offered by the government, which pays immigrants \u20ac8 per day to attend. The government also provides immigrants with a free home, health care for their family and education for their children. In addition, they get a monthly stipend of \u20ac367 per adult to cover expenses until they start earning their own living. The government is able to pay for these services due to a progressive tax rate that can exceed fifty percent of a person\u2019s income. Even so, officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed that Finland needs immigrants and that, in the long run, they are not a burden on society.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ban-on-muslim-prayer-finland-soeren-kern.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-695 size-full\" title=\"ban on muslim prayer finland soeren kern\" src=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ban-on-muslim-prayer-finland-soeren-kern.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ban-on-muslim-prayer-finland-soeren-kern.jpg 300w, https:\/\/soerenkern.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/ban-on-muslim-prayer-finland-soeren-kern-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After that story was published, the number of Muslim immigrants to Finland skyrocketed. For example, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/english\/article\/Finnish+immigration+officials+overwhelmed+by+Somali+family+unification+requests\/1135259750237\" target=\"_blank\">immigration from Somalia<\/a> alone more than doubled in 2010 from 2009. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/english\/article\/Somali+population+in+Finland+growing+fast\/1135256885942\" target=\"_blank\">Most of the Somali adults coming to Finland are illiterate<\/a>, according to the <em>Helsingin Sanomat<\/em> newspaper. In September 2010, Finnish authorities admitted that Somalis were <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/english\/article\/Immigration+Service+to+investigate+suspicions+of+human+trafficking+among+Somalis\/1135259776141\" target=\"_blank\">abusing the family unification procedure to facilitate human trafficking<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Some Muslim immigrants to Finland have travelled to Pakistan or Somalia to attend Jihadi training camps, according to <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vasabladet.fi\/\" target=\"_blank\">Vasabladet<\/a><\/em>, a newspaper in Sweden. In February 2010, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/paakirjoitus\/artikkeli\/Somalian+avustamisesta+voi+olla+jopa+haittaa\/HS20100209SI1MA01ehv\" target=\"_blank\">Helsingin Sanomat<\/a><\/em> reported that the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab was recruiting young Somalis living in Finland to go to war against the Somali government.<\/p>\n<p>In early 2010, the Finnish Security Police (SUPO) asked Parliament for \u20ac1.7 million in funding to station officers permanently in Africa and the Middle East to stop possible terrorists who might want to travel to Finland. In August 2010, SUPO said it had successfully prevented terrorist suspects from Africa from entering Finland. In December 2010, Interior Minister Anne Homlund said that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yle.fi\/uutiset\/news\/2010\/12\/terrorist_training_a_punishable_crime_2229541.html\" target=\"_blank\">training individuals to commit terrorist acts<\/a> would become a criminal offense.<\/p>\n<p>In December 2009, an <a href=\"http:\/\/news.sky.com\/skynews\/Home\/World-News\/Finland-Eyewitnesses-Report-Shooting-At-Shopping-Centre-In-Town-Of-Espoo-Near-Helsinki\/Article\/200912415511444?lpos=World_News_News_Your_Way_Region_8&amp;lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15511444_Finland%3A_Eyewitnesses_Repor\" target=\"_blank\">Albanian Muslim shot dead three men and a woman<\/a> at a shopping centre in Espoo. The lone gunman was dressed in black and walked through the mall randomly firing at shoppers.<\/p>\n<p>There are now believed to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hs.fi\/english\/article\/A+new+generation+at+the+mosque\/1135256066865\" target=\"_blank\">several hundred hard-line Wahabi Muslim fundamentalists in Finland<\/a>, according to Tom Kankkonen, a journalist for the Finnish Broadcasting Company who recently wrote a book titled <a href=\"http:\/\/www.edita.fi\/1223\" target=\"_blank\">Islam Euroopassa<\/a> (Islam in Europe). He says these Islamists operate in communities such as the Helsinki Muslimikoti (Muslim Home), the Iqra Association, and the Salafi Forum on the Internet.<\/p>\n<p>As in other European countries (<a title=\"Free Speech on Trial in the Netherlands\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gatestoneinstitute.org\/1591\/geert-wilders-free-speech\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> and <a title=\"Free Speech on Trial in Europe\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gatestoneinstitute.org\/1829\/free-speech-on-trial-in-europe\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>), the politically correct guardians of Finnish multiculturalism have tried to silence public discussion about the escalating problem of Muslim immigration.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2009, for example, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jussi_Halla-aho\" target=\"_blank\">Jussi Kristian Halla-aho<\/a>, a politician and well-known political commentator, was taken to court on charges of \u201cincitement against an ethnic group\u201d and \u201cbreach of the sanctity of religion\u201d for writing that Islam is a religion of paedophilia. He was referring to the Islamic prophet Mohammed, who is believed to have married a six year old girl and consummated the marriage when she was nine.<\/p>\n<p>A Helsinki court later dropped the charges of blasphemy but ordered Halla-aho to pay a fine of \u20ac330 ($450) for disturbing religious worship. The Finnish public prosecutor, incensed at the lower court\u2019s dismissal of the blasphemy charges, appealed the case to the Finnish Supreme Court, where it is now being reviewed.<\/p>\n<p>Halla-Aho is the best-known political blogger in Finland. He maintains a blog titled <a href=\"http:\/\/www.halla-aho.com\/scripta\/\" target=\"_blank\">Scripta<\/a> that deals with issues such as \u201cimmigration, multiculturalism, tolerance, racism, freedom of speech and political correctness\u201d His blog has between 3,000 and 6,000 readers a day. According to Halla-aho, immigration is a taboo topic in Finland. He has received death threats because of his web columns which criticize the number of immigrants coming to Finland and argue that Muslims cannot be integrated.<\/p>\n<p>In April 2011, <a href=\"http:\/\/rt.com\/news\/finnish-priest-defrocked-terrorists\/\" target=\"_blank\">Juha Molari<\/a>, a Finnish Lutheran pastor, was \u201cdefrocked\u201d after he was accused of inciting religious hatred for describing Doku Umarov, the man behind the Moscow metro and airport bombings, as a \u201cterrorist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Also that month, the Finnish Ministry of Interior launched a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.puhettamaahanmuutosta.fi\/\" target=\"_blank\">new Internet site focused on immigration<\/a>. The politically correct objective is to \u201cgive a boost to factual and serious debate and information on the issue,\u201d and \u201cto get away from an \u2018us and them\u2019 position as well as from preaching and guilt attitudes.\u201d Of course, the site does not have a discussion forum.<\/p>\n<p>But lately some Finns have been pushing back.<\/p>\n<p>In January 2011, the City of Helsinki said that it would <a href=\"http:\/\/yle.fi\/uutiset\/news\/2011\/01\/helsinki_drops_muslim_women-only_pool_sessions_2266901.html\" target=\"_blank\">stop reserving special hours for Muslim women to use the public pool<\/a> in the suburb of Jakom\u00e4ki. In the future, the time slot for Muslim women will be open to all women. Previously, the Jakom\u00e4ki swimming hall blocked off Saturday mornings specifically for Muslim women. The women\u2019s session followed a swimming class for Muslim girls.<\/p>\n<p>In December 2010, the Ombudsman for Minorities, Eva Biaudet, issued a statement saying that a <a href=\"http:\/\/yle.fi\/uutiset\/news\/2010\/12\/exercise_centre_prayer_ban_not_discrimination_2234588.html\" target=\"_blank\">ban on Muslim prayer by gym in the City of Espoo<\/a> was not a violation of the prohibition on discrimination against ethnic minorities. In August 2010, the exercise center posted a notice requesting clients not to pray in its facilities. A nearby library provided a screened-off section of its rooms during August-September for use by Muslims during the month of Ramadan. But nine Espoo city councillors have demanded that religious practices be kept separate from public services.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"SoerenKern.com\" href=\"http:\/\/www.soerenkern.com\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Soeren Kern<\/em><\/a><em> is a Senior Fellow at the New York-based <\/em><a title=\"Gatestone Institute\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gatestoneinstitute.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Gatestone Institute<\/em><\/a><em>. He is also Senior Fellow for European Politics at the Madrid-based Grupo de Estudios Estrat\u00e9gicos \/ Strategic Studies Group. Follow him on <\/em><a title=\"Soeren Kern Facebook\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Soeren.Kern\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Facebook<\/em><\/a><em> and on <\/em><a title=\"Soeren Kern Twitter\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/SoerenKern\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Twitter<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Originally published by <a title=\"Muslim Immigration Transforms Finland\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gatestoneinstitute.org\/2075\/finland-muslim-immigration\" target=\"_blank\">Hudson New York<\/a> on April 28, 2011.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Finland\u2019s political map has been redrawn in the aftermath of parliamentary elections on April 17, when the nationalist True Finns Party won more votes than the governing party and now stands on the cusp of political power.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[183,181,138],"class_list":["post-688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-finland","tag-finland","tag-islam-in-europe","tag-scandinavia"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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