Hesinki: First Mosque for Shia Muslims Opens in Finland

Hesinki: First Mosque for Shia Muslims Opens in Finland

Via ABNA:

The first mosque and cultural center for Finland’s Shi’ites was inaugurated in the capital Helsinki earlier this week.

Managers of Islamic centers from Sweden, Denmark and Norway, Muslim scholars including Hojat-ol-Islams Hakim Elahi, Khademi, and Razavi, Iranian ambassador to Finland Seyyed Rasoul Mousavi, head of Finnish prime minister’s office, and a number of cultural, religious and social personalities attended the inauguration ceremony of the center, which is named after Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA). 

(source)

Finland: Attitudes towards immigrants soften

Finland: Attitudes towards immigrants soften


Via YLE:

A new think tank report suggests that Finnish attitudes towards immigrants have become a little more open in recent years, after a spike in negative viewpoints at the end of the last decade.

The EVA pro-market think tank found in their latest survey that although attitudes have eased, Finns are still more likely to have a negative than receptive attitude towards immigrants.

 (...)

Nearly half of all Finns consider immigration to be a culturally enriching phenomenon. On the other hand, every other Finn believes that a tentative stance towards foreigners is "wise caution" rather than racism.(source)

(source)

Helsinki: Internet police monitor online rape case discussion

Helsinki: Internet police monitor online rape case discussion

Via YLE:

Helsinki’s local internet police team is keeping a close eye on an online discussion concerning a rape case in which two teens with immigrant backgrounds were convicted.

The team says it has also been contacted regarding inappropriate comments in the virtual debate.

The heated online discussion was sparked by a judgment handed down in the Helsinki district last week, in which two teens of foreign background were convicted of the rape of a Helsinki school girl. The court judgment was also circulated online, and included the names of the convicted teens and their relatives. 

(source)

Helsinki: Hospitals don't facilitate Muslim burial

Helsinki: Hospitals don't facilitate Muslim burial

Via YLE:

Muslims in the capital region must forgo their traditions for death as some elements of the Muslim burial ceremony are not possible in hospitals.

According to Muslim custom, the body must be washed immediately prior to the funeral, and if not possible: on the night before.  The body is then wrapped in two clean pices of cloth and placed in a coffin.  There are currently no facilities for such a procedure in Helsinki hospitals, and so often the family washes the body at home.

Finland: Higher threshold for some family reunification

Finland: Higher threshold for some family reunification

Via YLE:

Regulations governing the reunification of some families may be tightened. A report by the Interior Ministry says it is possible that in future, people resident on the grounds of humanitarian protection may have to prove sufficient income to support their families before being joined by spouses and children.

(source)

Finland: Afghan-born doctor is Refugee Woman of the Year

Finland: Afghan-born doctor is Refugee Woman of the Year

Finland: Finns Party proposes circumcision ban

Finland: Finns Party proposes circumcision ban

Via YLE:

Finns Party MP Vesa-Matti Saarakkala is calling for the criminalisation of male circumcision in Finland. In a formal inquiry to the government, Saarakkala says expanding the circumcision ban on girls to include boys is an issue of fundamental rights.

(source)

Finland: Moroccan crowned Miss Finland 2012

Finland: Moroccan crowned Miss Finland 2012

On Sunday, January 29, 2012, the Moroccan Sara Chafak was crowned as Miss Finland 2012 (Miss Suomi 2012) in a ceremony that was held at the Vanajanlinna Castle, Hameenlinna in southern Finland. Sara will represent Finland in Miss Universe 2012 later this year in September/October. (source) (photo)

Finland: Spying on refugees on the increase

Finland: Spying on refugees on the increase

Via YLE:

Spying on foreigners residing in Finland has increased, according to the annual report of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO). Such activity is not illegal as is the case in other Nordic countries.

Foreign intelligence services use spying techniques to keep citizens residing abroad in check. Dissidents and refugees face regular surveillance.

(source)

Finland: Hundreds march for tolerance in Oulu

Finland: Hundreds march for tolerance in Oulu

Finland: More immigrants among the homeless

Finland: More immigrants among the homeless

Via YLE:

The figures for immigrants without a place to live have also gone up, according to ARA. In 2011, homeless immigrants living alone numbered over 1,000 for the first time. They now account for 13 percent of all the homeless, whereas before this figure was 9 percent.

(source)

Helsinki: Muxlim Shuts Down, Promotes Biography

Helsinki: Muxlim Shuts Down, Promotes Biography

Via Arctic Startup:

The Helsinki-based social network site aimed at the world's muslim community, Muxlim, has shut down and now points to DisruptionManifesto.com, a teaser page for founder Mohamed El-Fatatry's new biography authored by David Cord.

(source)

Finland: Immigrant youths particularly prone to marginalisation

Finland: Immigrant youths particularly prone to marginalisation

Via YLE:

Immigrant youths are particularly prone to marginalisation, says Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA. According to the think tank’s study, education is paramount for preventing exclusion from society.

“Over a quarter of marginalised youths have foreign backgrounds. Their entry into Finland’s education and labour markets is four or five times more difficult than for their native Finnish counterparts,” says Pekka Myrskylä, Head of Development at Statistics Finland’s Population Statistics Department, who compiled the report for EVA.

(source)

Finland: More asylum seekers returning home by choice

Finland: More asylum seekers returning home by choice

Via YLE:

About one tenth of asylum seekers in Finland return to their home countries voluntarily. In the past couple of years, the greatest number of asylum seekers heading home have been Iraqis. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) is setting up a permanent system to facilitate such moves, known as Assisted Voluntary Return.

(source)

Finland: Swimming pool purchases curtains for immigrant swimmers

Finland: Swimming pool purchases curtains for immigrant swimmers

Via Tundra Tabloids (via HS):

Martinlaakso swimming pool will begin swimming periods for immigrants early next year. In practice, after normal business hours are held, the hall’s large windows will be covered with curtains. The arrangements are related to an immigrant directed campaign of Sports For Everyone – in Vantaa’s integration exercise project.

- The Hall was fitted with curtains this autumn. The project is within the framework of our central task to remove all kinds of obstacles. There have been obstacles to immigrants, because the swimming pools are open places, immigrants have not been able possible to participate in swimming activities, says Project Manager Marja Auroma.

(source)

Finland: Intercultural relationships demand constant negotiation

Finland: Intercultural relationships demand constant negotiation

Via YLE:

Intercultural relationships improve communication skills, according to new research. Continuous compromise is required on decisions about where to live, how to bring up children, religious beliefs, traditions, gender roles, holidays and friends.

Carine Cools defended her doctoral thesis ”Relational Dialectics in Intercultural Couples‘ Relationships” at Jyväskylä University on Monday. Cools, a senior research associate at the university, emphasised that nothing can be taken for granted in intercultural relationships. Even basic issues are subject to ongoing negotiation.

(source)

Finland: Police called in to settle Islamic teaching dispute

Finland: Police called in to settle Islamic teaching dispute

Via the Tundra Tabloids:

The State Police (SUPO) was involved in a dispute during the autumn in a school in Tampere concerning a controversy which arose between the teacher and the parents of children over the Islamic religious education that they were receiving.

The situation came to a head when according to Muslim representatives the teacher was not teaching their religion properly nor cared about the values​​ of the Koran.

(source)

Finland: Degree no job guarantee for immigrants

Finland: Degree no job guarantee for immigrants

Via YLE:

Up to three-quarters of immigrants in Finland with a higher education are without jobs. A new doctoral dissertation indicates that language barriers, the general poor situation in the job market and discrimination are all among the problems faced by well-educated immigrants.

In many cases, degrees held by immigrants are not directly comparable to Finnish degrees.

(source)

Finland: Finnish-Somali fights for Swedish minority rights

Finland: Finnish-Somali fights for Swedish minority rights

Via YLE:

Ahmed Hassan was nine when he arrived in Finland as a refugee from Somalia. In Finland, he grew up in a Swedish-speaking environment. Today he is on a mission for other foreigners to learn Swedish, Finland’s other official language.

In an interview with YLE’s Swedish-language radio news this week, Hassan, 27, says Finnish-Swedish culture is a part of his life. He is an active member of the Swedish People’s Party and works with helping foreigners integrate into Finland.

(source)

Finland: Lack of Islam teachers

Finland: Lack of Islam teachers

Via Österbottens Tidning (Swedish):

More Islam teachers are needed in elementary schools in Finland, although according to the National Board of Education, the situation is about to get better.

The board of education estimates there are more Muslim than Orthodox students. They each make up about 1% of the total number of students. Today Islam teachers are a diverse group, according to the University of Helsinki.