Hate Crimes against Foreigners Rise

[The Ripper]

Hate Crimes against Foreigners Rise

Hate crimes perpetrated in Finland grew by 17 percent compared to 2008, according to a study by the Police College of Finland. Most of these crimes focused on race and ethnicity.

Hate crimes most often took the form of assault and battery, with 85 percent of cases being race-related. The majority of racially motivated crimes were carried out in the Helsinki region.

Suspects tend to be Finnish-born young men between the ages of 15 and 24. Meanwhile, 60 percent of victims are native Finns, including children born to foreign parents.

Racist crimes disproportionately target Somalis living in Finland.

More than 1,000 hate crimes were filed with the police in 2009.

The article doesn't mention that Finnish law does not recognize such a concept as "hate crimes".

[Innar]

The article doesn't mention that Finnish law does not recognize such a concept as "hate crimes".

Are you sure?

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Seppo Lehto was sentenced to two years and four months imprisonment in Tampere District Court Thursday 30th of May 2008. Lehto was charged with nine counts of gross defamation, inciting ethnic hatred and religious blasphemy against Islam.

[Eldritch]

Hate crimes most often took the form of assault and battery, with 85 percent of cases being race-related.

Oh? It was only last year that most hate crimes were of the non-violent type, such as a racist tone of voice or a racist way of looking at someone.

[Alison]

Why are these "hate crimes" being committed? Are these attacks xenophobic?

[Wölfin]

What about hate crimes against women like honour killings, perpetuated on foreigners by foreigners ? Or does it not count because "it's not their fault, they're not well integrated"

@ Alison: I am guessing it is indeed a Xenophobic reaction by the ethnic Finnish youth to Somalis (who as I understand don't have a very good reputation as immigrants in Scandinavia).

[Alison]

Thanks, Eisapfel. In South Africa, xenophobia is directed at any black foreigner from another country. In many instances, the ferocity of the attacks and the reasons given are unjustified, but it is a fact that foreigners are responsible for a considerable amount of crime.