Two newspapers publish anti-Semitic opinion letter

Alert DateJuly 26, 2006 Country: Finland General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-semitism
Groups affected / Interested in: Religious minorities Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Media Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Newspaper
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 N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Two Finnish newspapers, Kansan Uutiset and Uusimaa, have published a strongly anti-Semitic opinion letter criticising the politics of US and Israel.

 

The letter considered the persecution of Jews and the Holocaust not only acceptable, but desirable in the Third Reich. The statement glorifying genocide also included a covert call to violence against Jews.

 

The managing editor of Uusimaa newspaper, along with the man responsible for writing the opinion letter, were charged with ethnic agitation. The editor of Kansan Uutiset was fined.

Sources:

Helsingin Sanomat: Kahdelle syyte kiihottamisesta kansanryhmää vastaan (4.11.2006) http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Kahdelle+syyte+kiihottamisesta+kansanryhm%C3%A4%C3%A4+vastaan/1135224154891

Helsingin Sanomat: Lehdille tuomio kiihottamisesta kansanryhmää vastaan (8.1.2007) http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Lehdille+tuomio+kiihottamisesta+kansanryhm%C3%A4%C3%A4+vastaan/1135224145741