Hamtramck: A Test Case for Mass Immigration

Surrounded by Detroit, Hamtramck is America’s first Muslim-majority city, although as recently as 1970, Poles made up nearly 90% of its population. In other words, Hamtramck is an example of a European-descended population changing from Christians to Muslims.

This ethnic and religious transformation has not taken place without visible consequences. One example is the decision by the city council, consisting entirely of Muslim men, to rename Holbrook Avenue—one of Hamtramck’s main thoroughfares—as Palestine Avenue.

At the same time, the city’s streetscape has changed. Women no longer walk the streets in miniskirts or with their hair uncovered, but are instead covered from head to toe in black niqabs. Shop signs, too, are written in the scripts used in the new population’s countries of origin, and schools have replaced the Easter holiday with time off to mark the end of Ramadan. And, of course, the soundscape has acquired the Islamic call to prayer, heard several times a day.

The consumption of alcohol has also been banned, while the religious slaughter of animals at home is permitted. And something that members of Europe’s sexual minorities in particular might want to take note of: the all-Muslim male city council has banned the public display of the Pride flag.

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It remains to be seen, then, whether Hamtramck is an example of the future of Western countries—including Europe, which readily welcomes immigrants—or merely a uniquely American curiosity. But whichever it turns out to be, people should be aware of the changes that have taken place there—especially when they support liberal immigration policies.

In Finland, the possibility of taking a position on a future like Hamtramck’s will next arise in the parliamentary elections next spring. After all, we will then have both candidates and political parties whose immigration policies will sooner or later lead to a way of life resembling that of present-day Hamtramck, as well as political movements opposed to such a future. The same applies to other European democracies as well.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Lessons from the Abdul Ballout Case
The Forgotten Empire That Shaped Modern Europe
Reflections on the Terrorist Attack in Australia

UN Congratulates an Executioner – Credibility in Free Fall

As we all know, Iran’s Islamist regime brutally killed thousands of protesters at the end of last year and at the beginning of this year. In addition, it has financed and supported terrorist organizations operating in the Middle East, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which in turn have killed civilians in Israel. Nor should the regime’s role in forcing Iranian women into compulsory veiling—and the daily suffering caused by it—be underestimated.

All of this has not prevented Iran from being a member of the United Nations. Nor did it prevent UN Secretary-General António Guterres from sending a congratulatory letter to the Iranian government yesterday, on the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution. In his letter, the Secretary-General congratulated Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian by name.

In his message, Guterres also described the day as an opportunity to reflect on the country’s path, role, and contribution to the international community, and invited Iranians to global cooperation to promote peace and security and to defend human rights—thus demonstrating a complete inability to act as the leader of the world organization.

Of course, António Guterres has previously shown himself to be unfit, but congratulating a terrorist regime that has just executed its own citizens en masse is downright disgraceful. At the same time, it strips the UN of the last remnants of its credibility as an actor in world politics.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Venezuela, Antonio Guterres and the Nature of Great Powers
The Cost of the East Jerusalem Attack for Palestinians — and Its Echo Worldwide
Finland Decides to Withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty — But What Business Is It of Guterres?

The original blogpost in Finnish:
YK:n pääsihteeri onnitteli Iraniin islamistihallintoa

Finns Give Their Government a Green Light to Ban Face Coverings

According to a new public opinion survey, 54 percent of Finns support and 26 percent oppose banning face coverings in public places and public services. This view is especially common among supporters of the Finns Party (92%), the National Coalition Party (70%), the Centre Party (62%), and the Social Democrats (54%). Thus, only the supporters of the left-wing parties (the Greens and the Left Alliance) are, on the whole, opposed to such a ban.

In fact, support for banning face coverings among different parties is even higher than the figures above suggest. For example, 14% of National Coalition supporters did not express an opinion, meaning that only 15% of them opposed the idea. Moreover, among those Green Party supporters who did state a view, around one-third supported a ban on face coverings.

There are at least two main justifications for prohibiting face coverings. First, they complicate criminal investigations.

Second, wearing a face covering is not always voluntary, since in certain cultures women are forced to cover their faces against their own will. Therefore, a ban could promote gender equality and the rights of girls and women.

That is why I now ask whether Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s (NCP) government, together with the Social Democrats, could ensure that the will of the people on this matter is implemented as soon as possible. Drafting such a law should be fairly straightforward, as Finland could follow the example of countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, or France, where such bans are already in effect.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Managing Societal Change with a Growing Muslim Population
A young woman skiing in a swimsuit caused a controversy among women
Did police have the right to strip women

The original blogpost in Finnish:
Hallitus sai kansalta valtakirjan kasvojen peittämisen kieltämiselle

Managing Societal Change with a Growing Muslim Population

Of the "vulnerable" refugees who have come to Sweden, 79 percent have returned to vacation in the country they fled from due to distress and persecution. Additionally, 81 percent of those who have arrived from outside Europe intend to remain in Sweden for the rest of their lives, regardless of how the human rights situation develops in their home countries.

There are no similar statistics for Finland, but I believe they would be quite comparable. Thus, it is clear that both Sweden and Finland - as well as most other European countries - will have to continue living with a growing Muslim population that tends to avoid adopting the Western way of life.

It would be wise for the political leaders of these countries to recognize this issue, so they can take corrective measures. In my view, key steps include reducing the pull factors for those considering coming from Muslim countries and improving the conditions for societal success for those who have already arrived in the Nordic countries.

In this regard, I consider the most important issue to be reducing the prevalence of consanguineous marriages - which are typical in many immigrant groups - through education and legislation. This is because it would reduce the mental and physical health problems that - due to recessive gene traits - occur more frequently in immigrant communities than in the general population.

It is also important to ensure that special attention is paid to women’s rights and status in the education of immigrant children. This should start in preschool and continue in schools, making it clear that all people are equally entitled to the same rights.

As a sign of this, the wearing of face-covering garments should be banned, and there should be no special services for women, such as separate swimming times, which are in reality aimed at Muslim women. These services are specifically rooted in gender inequality.

Third, I would address immigrant crime by ensuring that any immigrant convicted of a crime with a maximum sentence of over a year in prison is always and without exception deported back to their country of origin. This should be done even if the person has already acquired citizenship in their new home country. This could reduce the disproportionately high rates of drug, sexual, violent crimes and homicides among immigrants.

Fourth, I raise the issue mentioned at the beginning of this article about refugees vacationing in their home countries. Such behavior should naturally be seen as an indication that the person no longer needs refugee status, and it should be revoked. 

This is especially important if children have been taken back to their former home country to learn the customs of their own culture — and, in fact, to experience violence and/or be married off to a relative. In these cases, however, I would not send the child back to their home country, but would instead arrange for the parents themselves to return to their childhood homeland.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Society, Genetics, and the Impact of Consanguineous Marriages: At the Intersection of Education and Heredity
Drugs, Zombies, Girls, and Killers, as well as Swedish Deportation Flights
Important Changes Ahead: What You Need to Know About Finland’s Quota Refugee Selection

A young woman skiing in a swimsuit caused a controversy among women

Ida Hulkko is a 24-year-old Finnish general's daughter, a relative of Andy McCoy of Hanoi Rocks and competitive swimmer who has won silver at the European Championships. She is also active on social media and recently posted a video of herself skiing in her competition outfit, which happens to be a swimsuit. The video caused a storm of controversy, which Hulkko can best explain herself.

"It's amazing how much negative emotion one video that I found funny can stir up in people who don't even know me... Some people understood the humor, but others focused on the objectification and slut-shaming aspects. If I wanted attention, I could start an OnlyFans or do something else. And even if I did want attention, what's wrong with that?"

So is this about misogyny directed towards a young woman by men? Or even contempt for the entire female gender? The reader can ponder this in light of the swimmer's own comments.

"I receive hateful messages every day. Unfortunately, most of the hate speech comes from women. It's really sad. Nowadays, society talks a lot about feminism, but still some women are bullied on social media."

Furthermore, "I've been told, for example, that I disrespect female athletes and women's sports. I've also been slut-shamed, and I've even been accused of promoting a rape culture." 

I think this is pretty harsh talk for a young woman who is living best time of her life and excelling as an elite athlete, just because she humorously played around with Finnish seasons in an outfit that no one pays much attention to in the summer at the beach or even in the wintertime at the indoor swimming pool.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:

The Guardian misleads its readers
African female and Persian male ancestors
Did police have the right to strip women

Did police have the right to strip women

In Finland an interesting case has been taken to the court. Police are accused of stripping women of their hijabs. The stripped women were in Finland illegally, as no need for an asylum was shown, but they had refused to leave the country. 

Thus far it has been clear that police has right to ensure the identity of any person in the country. Now the case - taken to the court not by the women themselves but by the office of the prosecutor general -  questions this practice.

If the court decides the case for the women, it will open doors to many tedious visions. After such an outcome anyone could wear a religious clothing to remain unidentified, irrespective if they are illegally in the country or if they are suspected for a crime. And of course, they could participate demonstrations anonymously, although according to law that should not be allowed due to the possibility of a kind of misbehavior that has been seen previously. 

The question arising here is the motivation of the office of the prosecutor general? Is his aim to complicate the work of police in the country? Or does he want to have a prejudice - to loose his case - for the future needs to help the police? 

That we do not know, but it is very clear that the number of serious crimes has increased in the country since the international migration wave in 2015 although the numbers are still low compared to previous decades. I hope, that after this court case, its outcome will help to reduce the crime rate in future.  

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Riots in Sweden: what next?
A man was murdered in a prison
A set of immigration-derived sexual crimes in a Finnish town