On December 17, Finnish PM Petteri Orpo issued a heartfelt apology after lawmakers from the far-right Finns Party shared anti-Asian images online. 🙏
The controversy started when Sarah Dzafce, 2025’s Miss Finland, was stripped of her crown for mocking and stereotyping Asians. Soon after, two MPs and a member of the European Parliament posted similar offensive content on their social feeds.
Orpo stressed these remarks clash with Finland’s core values of equality and inclusion, and he told lawmakers to reflect on their words.
Asian communities in Finland—and across Europe—welcomed the apology but are calling for stronger action against racism. They say words matter, especially when amplified by public figures.
For South Asian and Southeast Asian readers, this is a powerful reminder: online hate doesn’t stay online, and leadership sets the tone. Let’s keep demanding respect and unity everywhere! 💪🌏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
