Turk, J. (2021), Uskonnollisten yhteisöjen tiloihin kohdistuvat uhkat: Kyselyn tulokset (Threats to the premises of religious communities: Results of the survey). Sisäministeriön julkaisuja 2021:13, Helsinki, Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior)

Country

Finland

Title

Turk, J. (2021), Uskonnollisten yhteisöjen tiloihin kohdistuvat uhkat: Kyselyn tulokset (Threats to the premises of religious communities: Results of the survey). Sisäministeriön julkaisuja 2021:13, Helsinki, Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior)

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Year

2021

Type of publication

Report

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

Public authority

Institution

Finland, Ministry of the Interior, Sisäministeriö

Main Thematic Focus

Religious freedom

Target Population

General population

Key findings

As compared to Christian respondents (93 %), only 69 % of Muslim respondents felt safe near their religious premises. The main reasons for their lost sense of security were troublemakers in the vicinity of the premises, vandalism, inadequate transport arrangements, and poor lighting or lack of lighting outside the premises. Some 63 % of Muslim respondents held that hate speech in social media affects their sense of security when practising their religion, to the effect that they have changed their behaviour. For example, they do not visit their religious premises alone or when it is dark and they do not take their children to the premises. Violence or threat of violence in the vicinity of the religious premises had been experienced by 18 % of Muslim respondents. Some 29 % had witnessed violence or threat of violence encountered by another person outside the premises. The most common form of violence reported by the Muslim respondents was verbal abuse.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

An online survey was sent to all religious communities operating in Finland. The survey was open between 2 November 2020 and 7 December 2020. There were both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Responses could be given in: Finnish, Swedish, English, Arabic, Somali and Farsi.

Sample details and representativeness

A total of 309 responses were received. Of these, 40 % were Muslim respondents. A majority (74 %) of the Muslim respondents were those attending religious services, the rest were either religious leaders (5 %) or assisted in (21 %) religious services. The analysis is statistically representative for Christian and Islamic communities, whereas for the Jewish community, the response rate was low.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.