Anti-immigrant ‘Soldiers of Odin' raise concern in Finland
Wearing black jackets adorned with the symbol of a Viking and the Finnish flag, the "Soldiers of Odin" have surfaced as self-proclaimed patriots, patrolling the streets to protect native Finns from immigrants, worrying the government and the police.
On the northern fringes of Europe, Finland has a poor track record of welcoming large numbers of refugees, unlike neighboring Sweden. But, it is now struggling with the huge wave of asylum seekers plaguing other European countries and authorities are growing wary of anti-immigrant vigilantism.
A group of young men founded the "Soldiers of Odin" – named after a Norse god – late last year in the northern town of Kemi, near the border community of Tornio, which has become an entry point for migrants arriving from Sweden. Since then, the group has expanded to other towns, with members stating they want to serve as the eyes and ears of the police who, they say, are struggling to fulfil their duties. Members have been seen carrying placards at demonstrations with slogans that read, "Migrants not welcome." While most Finns disapprove of the group, its increasing popularity signals disquiet in a country strained by the cost of dealing with asylum seekers while mired in a three-year-old recession that has forced the government to cut state spending and funding for welfare.
The government has made it clear that there is no place for vigilantes in Finland. "As a matter of principle, the police are responsible for law and order in the country," Prime Minister Juha Sipila told public broadcaster YLE last week, responding to concerns about the group. "Civilian patrols cannot assume the authority of the police."
"There are extremist features in carrying out street patrols. It does not increase security," Finnish Interior Minister Petteri Orpo told national broadcaster YLE on Thursday. "Volunteers have no right to use force," he said. No clashes have been reported between the "Soldiers of Odin" patrols and immigrants so far but police said they are keeping a close eye on the group.
Finland received about 32,000 asylum seekers last year, a drastic leap from the 3,600 in 2014. Still, it has a relatively small immigrant community, with a roughly 6 percent population of foreign nationals in 2014 compared with the average 10 percent in the European Union.
The group has shut down its website following reports that some members have a criminal background. Members were contacted by Reuters but declined to comment while one of the group's founders in Kemi, Mika Ranta, clarified with media sources that immigration is the group's focus.
The coalition government – which includes The Finns, an anti-immigration party – has criticized the patrols. However, the government is facing pressure to crack down on asylum seekers. Support for The Finns party, which joined the coalition in May, has plummeted due in part to voters who are frustrated with the government's handling of migrants. The government has tightened its immigration policies, requiring working-age asylum seekers to perform jobs without wages and acknowledge the "national curriculum" on Finnish culture and society.
The patrols have also prompted a counter-movement, with Facebook communities hoping to avert confrontations on the streets. Namely, the "Sisters of Kyllikki" was formed, named for a character in the national epic poem Kalevala. "Our aim is to help people and to increase dialogue among all Finns as well as immigrants," said Niina Ruuska, a founder of the group which has about 1,500 Facebook members.
On the northern fringes of Europe, Finland has a poor track record of welcoming large numbers of refugees, unlike neighboring Sweden. But, it is now struggling with the huge wave of asylum seekers plaguing other European countries and authorities are growing wary of anti-immigrant vigilantism.
A group of young men founded the "Soldiers of Odin" – named after a Norse god – late last year in the northern town of Kemi, near the border community of Tornio, which has become an entry point for migrants arriving from Sweden. Since then, the group has expanded to other towns, with members stating they want to serve as the eyes and ears of the police who, they say, are struggling to fulfil their duties. Members have been seen carrying placards at demonstrations with slogans that read, "Migrants not welcome." While most Finns disapprove of the group, its increasing popularity signals disquiet in a country strained by the cost of dealing with asylum seekers while mired in a three-year-old recession that has forced the government to cut state spending and funding for welfare.
The government has made it clear that there is no place for vigilantes in Finland. "As a matter of principle, the police are responsible for law and order in the country," Prime Minister Juha Sipila told public broadcaster YLE last week, responding to concerns about the group. "Civilian patrols cannot assume the authority of the police."
"There are extremist features in carrying out street patrols. It does not increase security," Finnish Interior Minister Petteri Orpo told national broadcaster YLE on Thursday. "Volunteers have no right to use force," he said. No clashes have been reported between the "Soldiers of Odin" patrols and immigrants so far but police said they are keeping a close eye on the group.
Finland received about 32,000 asylum seekers last year, a drastic leap from the 3,600 in 2014. Still, it has a relatively small immigrant community, with a roughly 6 percent population of foreign nationals in 2014 compared with the average 10 percent in the European Union.
The group has shut down its website following reports that some members have a criminal background. Members were contacted by Reuters but declined to comment while one of the group's founders in Kemi, Mika Ranta, clarified with media sources that immigration is the group's focus.
The coalition government – which includes The Finns, an anti-immigration party – has criticized the patrols. However, the government is facing pressure to crack down on asylum seekers. Support for The Finns party, which joined the coalition in May, has plummeted due in part to voters who are frustrated with the government's handling of migrants. The government has tightened its immigration policies, requiring working-age asylum seekers to perform jobs without wages and acknowledge the "national curriculum" on Finnish culture and society.
The patrols have also prompted a counter-movement, with Facebook communities hoping to avert confrontations on the streets. Namely, the "Sisters of Kyllikki" was formed, named for a character in the national epic poem Kalevala. "Our aim is to help people and to increase dialogue among all Finns as well as immigrants," said Niina Ruuska, a founder of the group which has about 1,500 Facebook members.
Last Update: January 18, 2016 22:21