Finland is one step closer to passing a new immigration law after the Constitutional Committee approved the government’s draft bill by a vote of 15 to 2. The new law, if passed by parliament, allows for the prohibition of the right to claim asylum for individuals entering Finland through the eastern borders.
The bill was supported by the Social Democratic Party on the condition that some of its articles be amended before the parliamentary vote. However, the Green Party and the Left Alliance opposed the bill, and the Finnish constitution requires the approval of five-sixths of the 100-member parliament to pass the law.
A petition opposing the bill has garnered signatures from numerous university professors, writers, and artists, denouncing it as unconstitutional and in conflict with Finland’s international commitments.
Kari-Pekka Enqvist, a professor at the University of Helsinki, highlighted widespread skepticism among legal experts regarding the bill’s compliance with international human rights treaties. “The bill’s legal basis is highly questionable,” Enqvist remarked. “Perhaps it would be prudent to pause and reconsider.”
Annika Sandlund, UNHCR Representative to the Nordic and Baltic Countries, refuted the assertion that Finland must pass this law despite violating its international legal obligations. “The claim that this will be the only option is inaccurate,” Sandlund clarified in an interview with the Finnish Broadcasting Company. She urged the Finnish government to reassess its current approach to asylum, emphasizing that Finland should uphold its reputation as a defender of human rights even during challenging times. She stressed that it is precisely in difficult times when the protection of human rights is most crucial.
“This law significantly undermines access to asylum and protection from refoulement in Finland, potentially sanctioning violence and pushbacks at the border,” stated Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office and member of the European Refugee Council. Geddie urged the Finnish government to reject this assault on its core constitutional principles and rule of law. She called for immediate action to manage borders humanely and uphold Finland’s international obligations.
