Finland's far-right leader Riikka Purra has issued an apology for her past racist and violent writings, following the emergence of comments she made on a far-right forum 15 years ago. The Finnish government was subsequently compelled to issue a statement affirming its unwavering commitment to human rights and equality in the country.
Purra, who is also serving as Finland's finance minister and leads one of the parties in the right-wing coalition government, took to Twitter to express remorse for her earlier remarks. She acknowledged her imperfections, tweeting, "I've made mistakes." While initially neither confirming nor denying her authorship of the comments, Purra later admitted to having written the controversial posts.
The revived writings contained racist diatribes targeting Turkish and Somali immigrants, along with violent statements about shooting individuals on a commuter train if she possessed a gun. The posts also included the use of racial slurs and expressed a desire to spit on beggars and assault children with African backgrounds in Helsinki.
Purra attempted to mitigate the impact of her past remarks by explaining that they were taken out of context and emphasizing that she does not condone violence, racism, or discrimination. However, the comments have sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about her suitability for public office.
"Taken out of context and evaluated in the present moment, some texts look even worse. I do not accept any kind of violence, racism, or discrimination,” Purra wrote.
In response to the controversy, the Finnish government, comprising the ruling National Coalition Party, Finns Party, Swedish People's Party, and Christian Democrats, released a joint statement affirming their dedication to promoting equality, non-discrimination, and safety for all individuals. The statement emphasized that the government is actively working to ensure that everyone feels secure and valued in Finland.
"The government works purposefully to promote equality, equality, and non-discrimination in society. Everyone has the right to feel safe and well in Finland, regardless of their background," the statement says.
The government's statement came after Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, speaking at the NATO summit in Vilnius, called for a resolute and unequivocal stance against racism, urging the government to adopt a policy of zero tolerance. The emergence of Purra's offensive writings has undoubtedly placed additional pressure on the government to demonstrate its commitment to combating racism and upholding human rights.
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