State Secretary Nahkala: Violent extremism not yet a major problem in Finland
- Violent extremism is not yet a major problem in Finland, but there are signs of growth in all forms of organised extremism, said State Secretary Andrei Nahkala when he spoke at a Nordic ministerial meeting on prevention of violent extremism held in Copenhagen today.
Finland wants to develop and implement a prevention policy to efficiently keep the level of extremist violence in the country low. The vast majority of crimes committed with extremist influence are done by right-wing extremists. Extreme left activity is lower than the extreme right.
- There are signs that a militant anti-fascist movement is growing in response to the visibility that the extreme right has gained in the recent years, said Mr Nahkala.
Growing concern about foreign fighters travelling to Syria
The Finnish Muslim population is moderate and radical views have not gained public support. According to Mr Nahkala, our biggest concern is the same as in many other countries.
- There is a risk that young second-generation Muslim men will be radicalised, and sudden domestic or international events could also provoke violent reactions. Some people from Finland, too, have travelled by themselves, as groups or even with their families to fight in Syria.
Increasing awareness of violent radicalisation
The first national action plan to prevent violent extremism was published in Finland in mid-2012 and it is currently being implemented. A key objective of the action plan is to prevent violent extremism in its early forms through local measures and cooperation between the authorities and civil society.
- Currently there are four local networks in major cities. One of our main goals is to increase awareness of this phenomenon among not only the authorities but also the general public. This is done, among other things, through a biannual situation review that is distributed widely, said Mr Nahkala.
For further information, please contact State Secretary Andrei Nahkala, tel. +358 295 418 806.