Municipal councillor charged with ethnic agitation

Alert DateJuly 13, 2010 Country: Finland Address: Asikkala General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Islamophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Muslims Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Internet, Integration - social cohesion, Daily life Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Internet
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Finnish
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age 46-55
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

A municipal councillor from Southern Finland was charged with ethnic agitation based on his blog writings in the Internet. One of the councillor's blog writings was discriminating against a certain ethnic group, presenting the members as prone to violence and crime. The writing has since been removed from the service. The district court of Päijät-Häme dropped the charges in November 2010.

Sources:

Helsingin Sanomat: Perussuomalaisten valtuutettu sai syytteen blogikirjoituksesta (13.7.2010) http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Yle+Perussuomalaisten+valtuutettu+sai+syytteen+blogikirjoituksesta/1135258566840

Helsingin Sanomat: Perussuomalaispoliitikon syytteet nurin käräjillä (10.11.2010) http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/1135261539739