Christians

Finns Party minister survives confidence vote over alleged anti-Muslim discrimination Prime Minister Petteri Orpo had voiced support for Mari Rantanen amid controversy that her ministry engaged in religious bias.

(Yle) Finns Party Minister Mari Rantanen survived a confidence vote in Parliament on Wednesday by a margin of 94–53, with 15 abstentions and 37 MPs absent. The vote was called by the opposition Greens and supported by the Left Alliance. The parties […]

Christians

Finland’s Muslim community calls for ‘immediate’ government action on refugee policy reports The non-discrimination ombudsman said last week that the Interior Ministry acted in a discriminatory way by trying to favour refugees from Christian-majority countries over those from Muslim-majority nations.

(Yle) A joint statement signed by a total of nine Muslim organisations has called on the Finnish government to take “immediate action” in response to reports of alleged discrimination by the Interior Ministry in the allocating of quota refugee places for this […]

Christians

Greens submit no-confidence motion in interior minister over alleged refugee discrimination Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said on Thursday evening that Minister Rantanen continued to have his trust.

(Yle) The opposition Green Party has submitted a no-confidence motion in Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns), following a report by the non-discrimination ombudsman regarding the ministry’s quota refugee arrangements. The Greens submitted the motion one day after the ombudsman issued a report […]

Christians

Ombudsman: Interior Ministry aimed to prevent Muslim refugees coming to Finland 'The government has seriously undermined the rights of asylum seekers and immigrants through several legislative changes,' the non-discrimination ombudsman's office stated.

(Yle) Finland’s Interior Ministry acted in a discriminatory manner as it prepared the country’s quota refugee plan for 2025, according to a report by the non-discrimination ombudsman’s office. The office found that the ministry favoured asylum seekers from Christian-majority countries when it […]

Christians

Finland reverses quota refugee policy, accepts half from Muslim-majority countries Finnish media previously reported that the Interior Ministry planned to favour refugees from Christian-majority nations over Muslim-majority countries.

(Yle) Finland will take in 500 quota refugees next year as part of the UNHCR’s resettlement programme, the Interior Ministry confirmed in a press statement released on Thursday. The statement also revealed the allocation of the quota, meaning which refugee groups will […]

Christians

Interior Ministry to review refugee quota plans following backlash According to media reports, the Finns Party had proposed reducing the number of quota refugees accepted from Muslim-majority countries while increasing the intake from Christian-majority nations.

(Yle) Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) has requested that the Interior Ministry review its plans on how Finland’s refugee quota will be allocated next year. Finnish media reported last month that the Finns Party has proposed reducing the number of quota […]

Clothing

Finns Party MPs call for burka ban in public places Although supportive of the proposal, Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns) told Yle it is unlikely to pass into law during this government's term in office.

(Yle) Finland’s interior minister, Mari Rantanen (Finns), has confirmed to Yle that she supports a proposal put forward by 14 of her party colleagues earlier this week calling for a ban on face coverings in public places. The proposal would effectively mean […]

Christians

Ombudsman warns Finland’s quota refugee plan would be discriminatory The Interior Ministry instructed officials to prepare the quota refugee plan in a way that conflicts with the Finnish Constitution as well as laws on discrimination, according to the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman.

(Yle) The Interior Ministry’s quota refugee plans for next year — which are currently being prepared — are likely discriminatory on religious grounds, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman office has warned. Last month, Finnish media reported that Finns Party ministers want to reduce the […]

Christians

HS: Finns Party aiming to reduce quota refugees from Muslim-majority countries The government has not yet taken a final decision about Finland's plan to accept quota refugees next year.

(Yle) The Finns Party has proposed reducing the number of quota refugees accepted from Muslim-majority countries while increasing the intake from Christian-majority nations, according to newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. According to sources, Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns) and acting interior minister Lulu Ranne […]