Finland Sees Unprecedented Wave of Hate Crimes in 2025
Law enforcement agencies registered 1,808 suspected hate crime incidents this year, marking a 13% increase from 2023 levels, according to data compiled by the country's Police University College and cited by broadcaster Yle. The escalation continues an upward trajectory that began around 2020, with the majority of cases involving verbal abuse, threatening behavior, and systematic harassment.
Racial animosity emerged as the predominant factor fueling the suspected offenses, with approximately 70% of victim reports indicating ethnic or national background as the motivation behind attacks.
"The Finnish Criminal Code does not include the criminal categories of hate crime or hate speech, but hate motive is a basis for increasing the punishment. Therefore, any act that is defined by legislation as a crime can be a hate crime," the Police University College stated.
Research analyst Jenita Rauta from the university noted that victims targeted for their disabilities, sexual orientation, or religious identity represented additional categories documented in last year's reports.
"The trend is concerning. In my opinion, the increase in hate crimes against people with disabilities reflects, for example, a broader societal polarization in which those in vulnerable positions are targeted," Rauta said.
The findings reveal that Syrian nationals residing in Finland faced the most frequent targeting, with Muslim individuals constituting the largest victim demographic. Digital platforms served as the primary venue where these suspected criminal acts occurred, the report indicated.
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