Immigrants stage demonstration against intolerance in Finland

Immigrants in Oulu, northern Finland, staged a demonstration on 24 February 2012 against the shooting to death of an immigrant in a pizzeria. The demonstration reportedly attracted over 200 participants. A video posted on Ilta-Sanomat briefly captures the "march for peace" and sheds new light on the plight of immigrants. The demonstrators urged decision makers and the police to promote tolerance and to step up efforts to make the city more secure. [Source]. A similar demonstration was reportedly staged in the nation's capital on the same day. YLE News noted that the "racially-flavoured" shooting in Oulu followed two other violent acts against immigrants.

Immigrants in Finland have safety concerns.

Following the deadly Oulu shooting, many immigrants believe any of them could be a victim. I have had a discussion with at least two people who feel this way. Many are scared.

One immigrant who has lived in Finland for 18 years and owns a pizzeria said he is scared and that things have changed over the past three years. He lives in Oulu - where the shooting took place - and has noticed that the city has become more racist. [Source].

It is worth mentioning that my Tuesday article condemning the Oulu pizzeria shooting and urging people of goodwill in Finland to do the same was not well received by some readers. The article was published on Migrant Tales, a blog that debates issues facing the immigrant and minority community in Finland, with the title: Zuzeeko's Blog: Finland - Shooting of Immigrants in Oulu Pizzeria must be condemned. It has received some unsettling comments. In the spirit of the Perussuomalaiset councilman who said the shooter should be given a medal, some readers have attempted to defend the shooter or make excuses on his behalf.

It has been said that "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing". Intolerance, hate crime, racism, discrimination and all social ills are morally reprehensible and must always be condemned by people of good conscience - no matter how loud voices in favor may seem.

*Photo: Ilta-Sanomat.

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Finland: President acknowledges rise of racism and xenophobia

On Sunday, 17 April 2011, voters in Finland went to the polls in a parliamentary election which changed Finland's political landscape and cleared all doubts about the level of racism and xenophobia in the country. Opinion polls conducted before the election predicted that a nationalist, racist and xenophobic political party known as the True Finns (Perussuomalaiset) was gaining support. Election results confirmed the polls and propelled the xenophobic True Finns to third position in Finland's parliament. This party which had only one Member of Parliament when it was founded in 1995 has steadily gained more seats despite its hard-line stance and now has a record 39 out of 200 seats with 560,075 votes in 2011.[Source]. Less than 2 months after the 2011 parliamentary elections, the President of Finland acknowledged the rise of xenophobia and racism in the Nordic country.

Speaking on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International, an organization fighting for freedom and respect for the rights of all individuals, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nationality or immigration status, President Tarja Halonen (see photo) said:

"We have to take seriously the rise of racism and xenophobia in Finland...". [Source]

This is a kick in the groin of the good people of Finland and weakens the country's position in international human rights discourse in a time when democracies around the world, including Finland, are supporting calls for freedom and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa.

Electoral gains enjoyed by the True Finns and outright racist and derogatory statements by the party's Parliamentarians over the past couple of months, concretize fears that Finland is going down the wrong road.

Following the April 2011 parliamentary election, a video was posted on the internet in which a member of parliament for the True Finns, Teuvo Hakkarainen, made derogatory and racist comments on camera against African and Muslim immigrants. In the video, the parliamentarian mockingly mimicked a Muslim call for prayers and used a derogatory and offensive word to address immigrants of African descent.



A free society should be void of lawmakers who use immigration scaremongering and disparage a group of people in a bid to score political points.

The rise of racism and xenophobia in Finland is real. These vices are unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned. A blogger in Finland who shines light on the plight of immigrants on the ground notes that the internet is Finland's breeding ground for racism. "True" Finns publish derogatory articles and make no secret of their prejudice online.

Immigrants in Finland are a vulnerable group in need of protection. More votes for the nationalist anti-immigration True Finns signaled tough times for immigrants and tough times call for tough measures to ensure that immigrants and ethnic minorities are adequately protected in the European country.

According to a BBC article, the True Finns believe, amongst other things, that "young women should study less and spend more time giving birth to pure Finnish children." 

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Sweden: Surge in Xenophobia puts Sweden Democrats in Parliament?

Photo of a member of Sweden Democrats, 1996: Expo.

You've probably heard that Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna, SD) - a xenophobic, extremist, far-right political party won seats in parliament for the first time since the party was founded in 1988. The break through came in a historic parliamentary election held on September 19, 2010. Does this radical-right political gain represent a surge in xenophobia in Sweden?

Following the election, Sweden Democrats secured 20 out of the 349 seats in the Swedish parliament (Sveriges riksdag). 20 seats might sound negligible, but with only 20 seats, this party that describes itself as nationalist has become a key player in Swedish lawmaking.

I must confess - prior to Sunday's general election, I knew nothing about the ideology of Sweden Democrats. But after reading about the party, I'm convinced that this election signals a surge in xenophobia in Sweden.

Sweden Democrats make no secret of a xenophobic and discriminatory ideology which targets immigrants and ethnic minorities, including Sweden's Sami  people (an indigenous ethnic minority group in Sweden). I won't dwell on the SD ideology, but it is worth reiterating that most of the party's beliefs are outright discriminatory and extreme.

Like many observant people who have kept a close eye on recent events in Sweden, including an increase in "white power" groups and the anti mosque demonstration in Gothenburg - Sweden's second largest city, I'm not surprised that a party with racist roots has secured seats in the Swedish parliament.

A lot more has happened, but these two instances clearly signaled a surge in xenophobia in Sweden.

Many Swedes, immigrants and foreign students in Sweden have expressed concern about this victory for xenophobia. In an article highlighting the reaction of some voters, published on the BBC website, a Swede (my classmate at Lund University) living in Norrkoping wrote, "I'm sad... but I'm not altogether surprised." Another voter in Malmö wrote, "... I feel that we are no longer the tolerant country we once were."

On Facebook, I was moved by the reaction of a foreign student living in Sweden. Following the election, the student updated his Facebook status with the following words: "Now that the Extreme Far Right Nazist party (Sverige Democraterna) has been voted into parliament, i guess it's time for me to flee the country... eller hur???"

Sweden is already tough enough for immigrants, many of whom meet unprecedented obstacles in the quest for acceptance and integration into Swedish society. With Sweden Democrats in parliament, minority rights and the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers in Sweden will dwindle.

History links Sweden Democrats to neo-Nazis.

Only time will tell what the historic election of September 19, 2010 will do to Sweden's reputation of promoting and protecting principles of human rights and equality.

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U.S: Undocumented Immigrants face sexual abuse in detention facilities

Last week, a news release by Human Rights Watch, revealed that in the U.S., undocumented immigrants face sexual abuse, harassment and assault in detention facilities. The immigration debate in many countries, including the U.S., has taken a negative tone, but should illegal immigrants in detention be left at the mercy of guards who sexually abuse, assault and harass women in detention facilities?

According to Human Rights Watch, in May 2010, a guard at the T. Don Hutto immigration facility in Texas allegedly "groped women" in detention. It is worth mentioning that this alleged sexual abuse of women at the T. Don Hutto immigration facility in not the only reported incident.

In 2008, five undocumented immigrants - women - were assaulted by a guard, in their rooms at the Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Texas.

You might be tempted to think that undocumented immigrants in detention face sexual abuse only in detention facilities in Texas because the aforementioned cases occurred in Texas, but reports of sexual abuse, harassment and assault have been documented in detention facilities in many states - New York, Washington State, New Jersey, Wisconsin, California, and Arizona.

It is true that the frequency of sexual abuse of undocumented immigrants in detention in the U.S. cannot be measured because many cases go unreported, since many victims are deported while abusive guards, more often than not, go unpunished and ready to take on the next victim.

You would agree that undocumented immigrants, by virtue of being human, have inherent rights, and should not be left at the mercy of guards in detention facilities. Undocumented immigrants are a vulnerable group of people who should be fully protected by the State. More importantly, perpetrators of sexual abuse in detention facilities should be brought to justice! Impunity sends a wrong message to perpetrators and victims of sexual abuse.

In a recent report published on August 25, 2010, Human Rights Watch sheds light on reported incidents, as well as allegations of sexual abuse in immigration detention centres in the U.S. The rights group also makes recommendations on how the issue could be addressed.

It remains to be seen whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Congress will make a moves in the right direction, based on recommendations by Human Rights Watch - to end sexual abuse, assault and harassment of undocumented immigrants in immigration detention facilities. 

Photo: AS IT STANDS.

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Nicolas Sarkozy fans flames of xenophobia in France

Xenophobia, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, refers to fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange and foreign. Recent events in France point to the fact that French President - Nicolas Sarkozy is fanning flames of xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiments in the European country.

On 30 July 2010, Nicolas Sarkozy warned that foreign-born French citizens would be stripped of French nationality if they "threatened the life of a police officer" or commit serious crimes. For right-wing anti-immigration supporters, this sounds like good news, but for people of good conscience and in the eyes of international human rights law, such a move would be discriminatory. Explicitly linking immigration to crime and fanning flames of xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiments is outrageous.

In the same month of July 2010, the forced eviction of African immigrants from a camp in the outskirts of Paris shocked rights advocates, and Nicolas Sarkozy promised to destroy the camps of the Roma minority and evict this vulnerable group of people who face untold discrimination in France and beyond. He accused the immigrants for a spike in crime in France.

It is interesting to note that Nicolas Sarkozy seems to have forgotten that he is the son of an immigrant. According to the BBC, the president is the son of a Hungarian immigrant and his mother is of Greek Jewish origin. In other words, Nicolas Sarkozy is of foreign origin. Why then does the President fan flames of xenophobia in France?

Why does Nicolas Sarkozy, the son of an immigrant, stigmatize less fortunate immigrants?

Foreign-born French citizens, non-immigrant French citizens and immigrants in France are all natural persons entitled to equality before the law. Explicitly linking immigration to crime could win Nicolas Sarkozy some votes in the up-coming 2012 elections, but would have dangerous repercussions on a country that has benefited enormously over the years from a long history of immigration and diversity.

You would agree that politically, immigrants are an easy target and immigrant-bashing is more often than not a last resort for increasingly unpopular politicians.

Ahead of the 2012 elections, Nicolas Sarkozy is unpopular, running out of ideas, running out of time and is in desperate need of votes from anti-immigration right-wing voters - as argued in an editorial on The New York Times, titled Xenophobia: Casting Out the Un-French.

It remains to be seen whether fanning flames of xenophobia in France would win Nicolas Sarkozy another term in office.

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France: Forced Eviction of African Immigrants in Paris

Earlier this week, I was appalled by a video footage of French police officers enforcing a forced eviction of African immigrants, predominantly women and children, from a housing camp in a suburb in Paris, France. The video, reportedly shot on 21 July 2010, shocked rights advocates worldwide, and is clearly a testament to abysmal failure of French authorities to provide immigrants with a basic need - shelter.

The following amateur video reveals what happens when a democracy fails to provide adequate housing to a vulnerable group of natural persons, irrespective of their origin. WATCH...


It is true that some of the women roughly evicted by police from La Courneuve neighborhood are undocumented immigrants, but it is also true that many are legally residing in France and the government has an obligation to provide adequate housing to all individuals within its borders.

As you would expect, many have blamed the immigrants for carrying children on their backs during a protest. Some have even suggested that the women used children as "human shields" - completely ignoring the fact that these women are homeless and have no decent shelter to leave their children.

Did the police use excessive force in executing the eviction of these African immigrants?

There is no denying that immigrants are a particularly vulnerable group of people in desperate need of protection. Unfortunately, more often than not, what they get is untold violation of their ever dwindling basic rights in the countries where they seek protection and a better life.

French authorities have failed to provide immigrants with the basic right to housing . Hence, in a desperate attempt to provide shelter for their families, immigrants pitch tents in the "roughest neighborhoods" in Paris and beyond.

It remains to be seen whether the forced evictees in the above video would be provided adequate housing in France or return to camps after such a traumatic encounter with French law enforcement officers.

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Migrant Workers in Finland: The Working Poor?

Although Finland has failed to ratify the UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and All Members of Their Families, Article 2 of the Convention defines a migrant worker as "a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national."

The quest for a better life has forced many people to travel to unlikely destinations. The Nordic country of Finland is located in Northern Europe and boasts of a population of 5.4 million people. Until recently, Finland was not a popular destination for migrant workers - partly due to the fact that the country was a "latecomer to industrialisation." Today, like other highly industrialised economies, Finland is grappling with immigration, and the immigration debate is contentious - to the extent that the Immigration Minister faced death threats. The negative tone of the immigration debate has far reaching damaging consequences on a vulnerable group of people - migrant workers. The question is: are migrant workers in Finland the working poor?

Roughly defined, the "working poor" refers to people who are employed but live below or slightly above the poverty line. It is worth mentioning that the poverty line, according to the European Working Conditions Observatory is defined as 60% of the equivalent median income.

In Finland, many migrant workers from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe - hold full-time jobs but live near, on, or slightly below the poverty line. This is the case because many are employed in unskilled jobs - menial jobs like cleaning, newspaper delivery, dish washing, you name it - irrespective of academic qualification. It is extremely rare to find immigrants employed in relatively high-paying jobs in the field of medicine, banking, law, etc. in the Nordic country. As if this is not enough, they face untold exploitation from unscrupulous employers - employers who mostly pay migrant workers a minimum wage for equal work.

Immigration critics blame the plight of migrant workers in Finland on language barriers and lack of skills that would allow migrant workers compete in the job market. The recent economic melt-down ushered in job cuts - as another justification for the plight of migrant workers in Finland.

On the other hand, migrant workers and immigration advocates blame the system. They argue that Finnish authorities are more interested in securing borders than protecting the rights of the many migrant workers legally residing in Finland. Consequently, many migrant workers are left at the mercy of employers. Administrative bottlenecks on issues that affect the wellbeing of immigrants, have not gone unnoticed.

Having lived in Finland long enough to have an opinion, if you ask me - there is no denying that migrant workers in Finland are arguably the working poor. Contrary to what anti-immigration proponents in Finland think, the immigrant community is made up of hardworking individuals who just happen to be at the wrong place - a place where they are forced to work two or three menial jobs, in a bid to rise above the poverty line. Many are educated, many speak the language, but somehow find it extremely difficult to integrate into Finnish society.

It is true that well-paid jobs are available for immigrants - immigrants from countries in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), and it is also true that  a majority of immigrants from other parts of the world - predominantly Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe rarely enjoy this privilege - they constitute the working poor in Finland.

The authorities in Finland should pay more attention to the plight of migrant workers. Migrant workers make an enormous contribution to the Finnish economy, and reserve the right to equal treatment, decent work and a decent life.

*Photo: YLE.

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U.S. Justice Department drags Arizona to court over Anti-Immigration Law

The U.S. Justice Department has challenged the constitutionality of a  Misguided Immigration Law in Arizona, in a court of law. The immigration law requires people in the state to  carry immigration documents at all times, and  calls on the police to detain anyone - with "reasonable suspicion" - for evidence of legal status. The new law, which is scheduled to go into force at the end of this month, sparked protests from immigrants and immigrat rights advocates in the U.S. President Obama has criticized the law, branding it "misguided" and "unenforceable". Critics of the law argue that it would lead to civil rights violations and racial and ethnic profiling against Latinos in Arizona. This is the case because it is reasonably forseeable that under the law, Latinos in Arizona would be subject to unreasonable police stops and questioning. Mindful of the fact that Arizona is struggling to curb illegal immigration from Mexico, the residency status of many hispanics legally residing in the U.S. would be unduly questioned by the police - simply because they look like the many undocumented immigrants from Mexico. In a bid to stop this law from going into force on 29 July 2010, the U.S. Justice Department dragged Arizona to court on Tuesday - pleading for an injunction against the anti-immigration law.

The raison d'etre of the lawsuit is the fact that only the Federal government has the power to regulate immigration in the U.S. Lawyers for the Justice Department argue that the controversial immigration law in Arizona is unconstitutional - because under the U.S. Constitution, immigration law is under the jurisdiction of the federal government alone.

It goes without saying that the anti-immigration law in Arizona represents blatant disregard for the U.S. Constitution, and its enactment would set an unwanted precedent - other states would be emboldened to overstep their authority, and make U.S. immigration law a state affair.

The U.S. is arguably the "land of the free" - but Arizona apparently seeks to change this assertion, by requiring free U.S. citizens and lawful residents to carry documents to proof citizenship or legal residency.

Besides violating the U.S. Constitution, the anti-immigration law is a beacon of racial and ethnic profiling. The law exposes Latinos in Arizona to unreasonable police controls - backed by "reasonable suspicion" that they are living in the U.S. illegally. This is the case because the law seeks to curb illegal immgration from Mexico, and punish illegal immigrants in the state - many of whom are Latinos. It is fair to say the law threatens the fundamental freedoms and civil rights of the many Latinos legally residing in the U.S., as well as the rights of many American citizens.

It is true, that Arizona is trying to protect its borders, and it is also true that the anti-immigration law endorses racial and ethnic profiling, and, in the words of President Barack Obama, "has the potential of violating the rights of innocent American citizens and legal residents...".

It is therefore good news that the Justice Department has dragged Arizona to court over the anti-immigration law. Time will tell whether the honorable court will grant an injunction against this controversial immigration law.

Read a statement from the U.S. Justice Department, here.

*Photo of Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building: Wikipedia.

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Legal Aid in Finland

A couple of weeks ago, a [foreign] student in Finland asked me a question: where do you turn to if you lend someone a hugh amount of money and he is unwilling to repay the debt? I immediately knew the question was about debt recovery, but unfortunately, I did not have an answer to the question. His question reminded me of the bitter truth that in Finland, many do not know where to turn to - for protection under the law. Not surprisingly, I made it my mission to find an answer to this important question. Considering the fact that many people cannot afford an attorney, you would agree that legal aid in Finland is indispensable.

The right to legal aid in Finland is guaranteed under Section 21 of the Constitution - which provides everyone with protection under the law! It therefore follows that in Finland, if you cannot afford a lawyer (in an event where you need legal assistance), you reserve the right to legal aid - a situation where the state partially or fully covers the cost of hiring a lawyer.

As obvious as this may seem, many people in Finland, especially immigrants, are not aware about the availability of legal aid in this Scandinavian country. This explains why many violations of the rights of this vulnerable group of people go unheard by a well-constituted court of law, despite the availability of legal aid in English language - in a land where Finnish and Swedish are the official languages.

In Finland, if you cannot afford an attorney, legal aid is readily available in any sort of legal matter - including assistance to creditors (debt recovery). Legal aid is only unavailable to companies, associations, corporations etc. It is worth mentioning that you are not eligible for legal aid if your insurance covers legal expenses. But there are exceptions to this rule.

Is legal aid in Finland free of charge?

The cost of legal aid in Finland depends on your financial situation: monthly income, assets and monthly expenses. The amount of money you pay is determined by the amount of income you have left, after your monthly expenses are reduced from your monthly income. However, keep in mind that if you have no means of income, legal aid is free of charge.

In Finland, there are numerous Public Legal Aid Offices. Make sure you go through the contact information of legal aid offices and pick the most convenient one. Personally, I like the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Legal Aid Office, locate at Mannerheimintie 4, 6th floor, 00100 Helsinki. I like this office because it is very accessible - located in the heart of the city centre - opposite the Swedish Theatre; next to Clas Ohlson.

My wish for the student - whose question inspired this article - is that he gets legal aid for debt recovery.

Visit the Legal Aid website for details about legal aid in Finland.

*Photo by dweekly

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Finland and the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights: What would ratification mean?

Last week's article on Significant Human Rights Instruments raised some questions for discussion pertaining to the International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights), 1990. The questions are: how do you establish that Finland has not ratified the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights? What would ratification mean for Finland and how would it affect current labour practices in Finland?

To establish that Finland has not ratified the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights - you have to take a look at the status of ratification of the Convention. As of today, 8 May, 2010, there are 31 signatories and 41 Parties to the Convention. In other words, 31 countries have signed the Convention and 41 countries have ratified it - and Finland is NOT one of them. Hence, it is clear that Finland has not yet ratified the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights.

Now, what would ratification mean for Finland and how would it affect current labour practices?

Ratification would mean that Finland has willingly assumed the obligations laid down in the Convention and can be held liable under international law for failure to fulfill its obligations. Besides the obligation to respect the rights of migrant workers enshrined in the Convention, Finland would be obligated to submit reports to the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), as stipulated in Article 73 of the Convention. Finland would be expected to report on legislative, judicial, administrative and "other measures" taken to guarantee the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. The Committee would examine the reports and make recommendations to Finland - on what should be done to adequately protect migrant workers within its borders.

Migrant workers in Finland are having a hard time integrating into working life and lack adequate legal protection. Until recently, Finland was not a popular destination for work-related migration. Hence, judicial, administrative and legislative measures that protect workers in Finland do not have provisions that adequately protect the rights of the ever-increasing number of migrant workers. This explains why untold exploitation of migrant workers in Finland goes unpunished.

By ratifying the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights, Finland would benefit a great deal from the recommendations and expertise of independent experts that monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights. The CMW would help Finland develop practices and methods that adequately protect the rights of migrant workers in this Scandinavian country.

All in all, as of today - Finland has not ratified the UN Convention on Migrant Workers Rights. It is my opinion, that ratification of the Convention will positively impact current labour practices in Finland.

Picture by Jyrki Kasvi: Main building of the Parliament of Finland (eduskunta / Riksdagen).

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Misguided Immigration Law in Arizona

The governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer (picture to the right) on April 23, 2009, signed into law - a bill that makes it illegal for immigrants to be in the state of Arizona. While anti-immigration supporters have hailed the new law as an attempt to cut down illegal immigration in Arizona, civil rights and immigration advocates worldwide have expressed concern about the new law - that it endorses discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnicity and will lead to racial profiling. Even the U.S. President - Barack Obama has given the bill a thumbs-down, branding it "misguided". What makes the new [misguided] immigration law in Arizona so controversial?

Without going into the intricacies of the law - it does the following:

• It criminalizes illegal immigration in the state of Arizona.
• It calls for legal immigrants in the state to carry documentation to proof their immigration status.
• The police are required to check anyone with "reasonable suspicion", for evidence of legal status.
  

The first two points are acceptable, but the last point - that requires police to check the immigration status of people they "suspect" are in the state illegally, is unreasonable and would lead to racial profiling.

Arizona is battling an influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico. It is no secret that the new immigration law seeks to curb illegal immigration from Mexico, hence it exposes Hispanic people to unreasonable police stops for evidence of legal status.

Talking about "reasonable suspicion" and racial profiling - imagine a situation where a group of Hispanics and a group of Caucasians are relaxing on the streets of Phoenix; Which group will be checked by the police with "reasonable suspicion" for evidence of legal status?

Considering the fact that Mexicans are Hispanic and police in Arizona are on the look-out for illegal immigrants from Mexico - the police are more likely to check Hispanics; not Caucasians, for evidence of legal status. Believe it or not!

While it is true that many illegal immigrants will be checked and arrested, it is also true that many Hispanic-Americans and other Hispanics legally residing in the state of Arizona will be racially profiled. Many will be unreasonably stopped and searched by the police - simply because of their ethnicity. On the other hand, many Caucasian illegal immigrants will go unnoticed - because of their ethnicity.

Jan Brewer said the new law was enacted due to Washington's failure to combat illegal immigration.

Does Washington's "failure" to address immigration issues justify the enactment of a law that violates the civil rights and liberties of a group of people?

According to FOX News - President Obama has called on the Justice Department to examine the legal implications of the new immigration law in Arizona. Many immigration rights groups, on their part, have legally challenged the constitutionality of the new law in federal courts.

In my opinion, the new immigration law in Arizona is miserably flawed and clearly legalizes racial profiling. Certain groups of people, especially Hispanics will suffer; while other groups have been given a blank check. By endorsing the unequal treatment of equals, the immigration law undermines the fundamental principle of equality before the law. It is truly a low point in U.S. immigration jurisprudence.

The law should be stayed by federal courts!

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Immigrant Advice Phone Line in Finland

It is no secret that many immigrants in Finland are in limbo - cutoff from day to day activities that make life more fulfilling and dignifying. Some argue that immigrants exclude themselves from the society by not learning the local language and clinging to their own cultures; Others argues that immigrants are segregated by racism and xenophobia in the Nordic country. Irrespective of the causes of exclusion of this vulnerable group, you would agree that Finland is taking some baby steps towards integrating immigrants. The recent launching of an immigrant advice phone line in Finland elucidates this assertion.

Upon arrival in Finland, immigrants and students find themselves in limbo for years. Given the fact that Finns are shy and not so friendly, many (immigrants) don't know where to turn to for basic information. Many rely on information provided by other immigrants. The obvious metaphorical question is - can the blind lead the blind?

I vividly remember my arrival for studies in the northern city of Rovaniemi in the Winter of 2006. The weather was totally unforgiving - with subzero temperatures and unprecedented snow. It got dark outside at 2:30pm - totally depressing for a student from a land where the sun always shines. As if this was not enough, I didn't have access to basic information - I could not find a post office or bank; I didn't have any emergency phone number; no information about public transportation - so I found myself biking in the snow. Above all, I didn't even know I had to register at the Local Register Office (Maistraatti); and guess what - I was an international student!

This is the story of the many international students and immigrants who arrive Finland every year. They end up spending years, trying to figure out things themselves because they know in Finland, they have only two options: sink or swim!

Looking back now, many questions linger in my mind - if an international student cannot have access the basic information he needs upon arrival in a country for studies, what about someone seeking protection from the State? Should immigrants completely rely on information provided by fellow immigrants?

Luckily, things are beginning to change. The Family Federation of Finland, a social and health sector organisation focusing on families, now runs a multilingual phone line, aimed at advising immigrants.

Immigrants can now dial a phone number and have all their questions answered. The service provides advice in English, Arabic, Russian, French and Finnish. This is good news for immigrants because they can now have their questions answered in a language they understand and by someone they can relate to. If a question cannot be answered, the operators do not hang up - they redirect the caller to the appropriate quarters. Immigrants can ask just about any question - about permits, work, housing, you name it.

Find details about the [long-awaited] service that provides answers to questions an immigrant in Finland might have - in a language other than Finnish, below:

Advice Line: 0207 401 160
Tuesday to Friday
10AM to 3PM (Services in English, Arabic French, English)
12pm to 3PM (Services in Russian)

Email:
finfo@finfonet.fi

website:
www.finfonet.fi

No doubt, the multilingual immigrant advice phone line in Finland is a blow to the language barrier that shuts out many immigrants, and a major step towards the integration of the many immigrants in limbo. However, a lot more needs to be done.

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Free HIV Tests for Immigrants in Finland

The Finnish AIDS Council offered free HIV tests for immigrants and foreigners in Oulu and Helsinki, Finland on Monday April 12, 2010. The tests were anonymous and no prior time-booking was required - this means you could just walk into one of the Council's facilities and get tested. Results were available in 15 minutes. No doubt, free HIV tests for immigrants is good news! But, one question remains unanswered - why was the HIV testing explicitly reserved for immigrants?

In Finland, according to Helsinki Times - there are about 500 to 1,000 people infected with HIV, but are unaware of the infection. Mindful of the fact that the later the diagnosis, the less effective the treatment, HIV testing should be a matter of urgency! Common sense tells you that it is important for you to know your HIV status, so that you can commence treatment as soon as possible - if you are infected.

Correct me if I am wrong - every individual is vulnerable to HIV; not just immigrants. Limiting free HIV tests to immigrants and foreigners in Finland somehow sends across a different message. Are immigrants more vulnerable? Why should the Council target a particular group for HIV testing?

Has every Finnish citizen already been tested?

According to the National Institute for Health and Welfare, in 2009, there were 180 HIV cases in Finland, out of which 82 were foreigners. Could this be the cause for concern?

Before you jump into any conclusions, note that there are about 2,600 confirmed HIV infected persons in Finland and Finnish citizens account for more than half - about 1,800 of the confirmed cases.

As you'd expect, 80% of the confirmed cases in Finland were sexually transmitted.

Make no mistake about it - free HIV test for immigrants in Finland is a good idea. However, the goal of the free tests should be to identify and support immigrants infected with HIV. It would be dehumanizing if the motive is simply to obtain statistics; statistics that would further polarize the on-going immigration debate - which is already in a sorry-state, and expose immigrants to more discrimination and unequal treatment.

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Police in Finland still Investigating Death Threats?

Finland's Minister of Migration and European Affairs - Astrid Thors was issued death threats on Facebook, for her "treasonous" immigration stance. The threats were made via a group on Facebook, entitled - "I'm ready to to spend a few years in jail for killing Astrid Thors!!" (translated from the Finnish language). In order to get the police in Finland to investigate a threat, the victim is required to report an offence. In February, the Minister reported the illegal threat to the police, but a single arrest is yet to be made. The question is - how much time does the police in Finland need to investigate a death threat against a Minister?

It's alleged that the creator of the group is a local politician from Häme, in South Finland. Hence there's a suspect! How much more investigation is needed before an arrest is made? Is this another testament of untold bureaucracy and bottlenecks in the administration of justice in Finland?

In the U.S., a man accused of issuing death threats against a Democratic Senator - Patty Murray (photo to the left), was arrested yesterday. The threats were made between March 22 and April 4, in response to the passage of the new health care bill. It didn't take the authorities up to a month to track down the culprit. In other words, law enforcement officers in the U.S. wasted no time "investigating" the threats. This is what we called - law enforcement! According to the Justice Department, threatening a federal officer in the U.S. is sanctioned by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In contrast, people in Finland seem to get away with illegal threats - even threats directed at State officials.

It's worth mentioning that the recent sluggish police response to death threats against Finland's Minister of Migration comes in the wake of other questionable police responses that ended up in tragedy.

In a country with loose gun laws - where 15-year-olds are permitted to carry guns, death threats require immediate and rapid police response. Don't you think?

YLE reported on March 8, that investigations are also underway for a Finnish website, registered to an American neo-Nazist. The site calls for the killing of immigrants and politicians.

The authorities should move quickly! They must not wait for the threats to be executed before bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Justice delayed is justice denied!

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