Muslim groups condemn Riikka Purra’s ‘black sacks’ blog comment Purra's 'black sacks' comment, made in 2019, presumably referred to burqas, the full-cover garments worn by some Muslim women.

July 20, 2023   

(Yle) A total of 26 Muslim groups and organisations in Finland have issued a joint statement condemning a blog comment written in 2019 by the country’s finance minister, Riikka Purra (Finns).

Purra’s comment, in Finnish but translated here in English, stated: “There are unidentifiable black sacks walking around the capital region who can only be identified as people because they are usually dragging small people behind them.”

Presumably, the “black sacks” comment referred to burqas, the full-covering garments worn by some Muslim women.

One of the signatories of the joint statement was Sharmarke Said Aw-Musse, imam at the Al-Salaam Mosque in Vantaa.

Read more.

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