Photo: Mikko Stig / Str / Lehtikuva
- Next Article Thousands protest in Helsinki against government austerity cuts
A political aide to Finnish Finance Minister Riikka Purra has come under criticism for calling Islam “the devil’s plot” in a heated Facebook exchange during the Eurovision Song Contest final.
Jari Mäkäräinen, a special adviser responsible for communications in Purra’s cabinet, made the comments on his private Facebook page while praising Israel’s Eurovision contestant. In one post, he wrote: “Palestinians, Hamas supporters and Muslims don’t achieve anything this beautiful in their entire lives. Love wins over the devil.”
The post received critical responses, to which Mäkäräinen replied: “Israel is right to ensure Hamas no longer poses a daily threat. You leftists always support terrorists and Muslims whenever you can. That says everything about you.”
Mäkäräinen later stated that his references to “the devil” were not aimed directly at Muslims or Palestinians. In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, he clarified: “When I refer to the devil, I mean the opposite of love. I believe love is God, and its opposite is the devil.”
He also denied that he meant to describe all Muslims in the same way: “In Finland, we have Tatar Muslims who live very differently than, say, those who could be called Islamists.”
Mäkäräinen added that his remarks were based on personal reflection and not meant as theological or political statements: “It’s my private page and those were personal thoughts, not fully formed essays.”
He also said he did not regret praising Israel’s Eurovision entry, calling it a moving performance. However, some of his original comments were no longer visible by Sunday. Mäkäräinen said this was because a Facebook contact had unfriended him, which removed parts of the thread.
Asked whether he believes Islam itself is a manifestation of evil, Mäkäräinen said: “If we follow the traditional Christian view that the devil exists, then maybe it’s closer than some other belief systems. But I don’t want to start a theological debate.”
Mäkäräinen has no elected office but was a local election candidate in Helsinki in 2021, where he received 54 votes.
The Finnish government has not commented on the remarks. Purra, who leads the far-right Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset), has previously been criticised for past racist writings, some of which she later distanced herself from.
Asked whether criticism of both Israel and Hamas is valid, Mäkäräinen said it should be: “If it’s true that Israel blocks food aid from reaching Gaza, that’s shocking. War is brutal on all sides.”
The incident adds to ongoing scrutiny of rhetoric from figures in the Finns Party, which is part of the current coalition government.
HT
- Next Article Thousands protest in Helsinki against government austerity cuts
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
