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*The group was established by native-born Finnish converts to Islam.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Moves+made+to+establish+Islamic+party+in+Finland/1135230117842
Wotanism has the authority of antiquity. Wotan lives in our blood.
David Lane(1938-2007)
Helsingin Sanomat International Edition
Moves made to establish Islamic party in Finland
September 7, 2007
An Islamic political party is being set up in Finland; organisers hope to gather the necessary 5,000 signatures for official registration, and to field candidates in next year's municipal elections.
The new party's chairman Abdullah Tammi said at a press conference held on Thursday that the aim of the new party is to promote healthy habits, and the Islamic lifestyle.
One of the goals of the party is to end the sale of alcoholic beverages at Finnish grocery stores and kiosks. Sales through the Alko stores would not be affected. The party also wants to make it possible for Muslim children to opt out of music classes and excursions to swimming pools, which Tammi says go against the Muslim faith.
The party further wants legislation that would sanction Halal slaughter and the religious circumcision of boys.
Asked if the party wanted Sharia law to be implemented in Finland, Tammi said that such a move would be "fantastic". He noted that the purpose of the law is to prevent crime in advance.
However, he was quick to add that the party is not seriously seeking a dominant position in Finnish politics or the building of an Islamic society here.
According to Tammi, the group does not have any contacts with any international Muslim organisation; he emphasised that it has emerged from the needs of Finns.
The organisers of the press conference were native-born Finnish converts, but the group hopes to get supporters from all ethnic groups.
Finnish Muslims have only quite recently established an umbrella orgnaisation for various communities - the Finnish Islamic Council.
The Council's chair Anas Hajjar did not directly wish to comment on whether an Islamic political party might bring together the roughly 40,000 Muslims living in Finland. A good many Muslims are already active in other political parties.
A similarly cautious view was taken by Abdi-Hakim Yasin Ararse, vice-chairman of the Islamic Society of Finland, who welcomed the idea in the sense that all Muslim problems are common.
As with Hajjar, the Somali-born Yasin was nevertheless unsure whether an Islamic political grouping was the best means of promoting Islamic culture and the position of the Muslim faith in Finland.
He noted that the Finnish Islamic Council sought contacts and cooperation with all political parties.
Skara Brae,
madkins
*Kari Pullinen