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Finland Aims to Criminalize Holocaust Denial With New Legislation
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by i24 News and Algemeiner Staff
Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo attends a summit between European Union leaders and leaders of the CELAC group of Latin American and Caribbean states, in Brussels, Belgium, July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
i24 News — Following the multiple racist and neo-Nazi scandals that have rocked the most right-wing coalition in the country’s history, Finland’s government decided on Thursday to criminalize Holocaust denial and combat racism in general.
The parties of the coalition government agreed on the content of a declaration submitted to the Finnish parliament calling for “non-discrimination in Finnish society” and new legislation to achieve this goal, according to a press release.
“Acts motivated by hatred against Jews, Muslims, Christians, and other religious groups will be prevented, and Holocaust denial will be criminalized,” the statement said.
The government also announced that it was studying “the possibility of criminalizing the use of Nazi and Communist symbols.”
Thursday’s statement comes two months after short-lived Economy Minister Vilhelm Junnila resigned after just 10 days in office, after he was accused of joking about Nazismat, a far right political rally in 2019.
Both his successor and the deputy prime minister were accused of sending racist messages.
“There is no place for racism in Finland. Political decision-makers must set an example by building a safe and egalitarian society, and we need the participation of the whole of society,” said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Thursday.
France, Canada, Germany, and Russia are among the countries that have criminalized Holocaust denial.
