Thousands protest against Finland’s rightist government, racism in Helsinki

Thousands of protesters disappointed with recently announced anti-racism plans by Finland’s rightist government staged a demonstration in the capital on Sunday, Finnish media reported.  

Helsinki Police told the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle that some 10,000-11,000 people joined a large-scale anti-racism demonstration in central Helsinki.

In a press release, the demonstrators said they were disappointed with the government’s anti-racism briefing announced on Thursday.

It said that the demonstrators were motivated to protest by disappointment in the current government, the series of racism scandals involving Finns Party ministers, and the government’s recently released statement on how it plans to tackle racism and discrimination.

“[The demonstration] shows the parliament returning from the summer break that racism that violates human rights, undermines democracy, and undermines the sense of security of people belonging to minorities does not belong in Finland or the Finnish government,” it added.

The demonstrators called on the government to respect Finland’s constitution and the international agreements it has signed.

Since Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s (NCP) right-wing government came into office on 20 June, it has been beset by a series of racism and far-right scandals.

The controversies have mostly revolved around the past activities and writings of Finns Party MPs, all of whom have taken on ministerial positions within the Orpo administration.

In order to address the issue, Orpo’s government unveiled a highly-anticipated plan on Thursday to combat intolerance and eradicate racism, while promoting meritocracy and equality within Finnish society.

France to ban Islamic abayas at schools: Minister

France is to ban wearing across the nation

Following the growing trend of discrimination against minority groups in Europe, France also said it will enforce a dress code in public schools banning long dresses worn by Muslims.

On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron made clear that French students won’t get past the door if they show up for school wearing long robes.

He said authorities would be “intractable” in enforcing a new rule when classes resume on Monday.

French Education Minister Gabriel Attal also announced in a press conference last week that robes worn mainly by Muslims, known as abayas for girls and women and khamis for boys and men, would be banned with the start of the new school year on Monday.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Sunday that the Muslim clothing ban aims to promote secularism at schools.

Clementine Autain of the left-wing opposition France Unbowed party denounced what she described as the “policing of clothing.”

The abaya ban is “unconstitutional” and against the founding principles of France’s secular values, and a sign of the government’s “obsessive rejection of Muslims,” she explained.

Under a French 2004 law, which aims to promote secularists’ ideology in French society, it is also forbidden to wear an Islamic headscarf in government buildings, including schools.

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