Half of Finns hold at least some suspicions about Islam

Helsingin Sanomat:

About half of Finns have at least some suspicions about Islam, while a very small minority - about ten percent - have a positive attitude toward the religion.

The rest take a neutral position, or have no opinion.

However, overall attitudes toward Islam have become more clarified compared with the situation in the 1990s, said Tuomas Martikainen, a researcher of religious science, at a seminar on Islam in Finland held in Turku on Saturday.

Martikainen added that the immigration is seen as a very sensitive subject in Finland, with politicians and the media tending to avoid discussing it whenever possible.

The reason for the clarification of attitudes toward Islam stems, in Martikainen’s view, from the fact that the number of Muslims in Finland has increased sharply in recent years.

Finns tend to look at Muslims in the same way that they view Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Scientologists.

There is an overall positive view toward the Lutheran and Orthodox churches, and feelings are neutral toward Catholics and Pentacostalists.

As Martikainen sees it, Finns take a positive view of people who resemble them in appearance, culture, or other characteristics. Attitudes become more negative, the more people deviate from the prevailing to skin colour, culture, or some other characteristic.

He criticises Finnish key politicians for avoiding open discussion on immigration, or issues related to immigrants.

Hat tip, Writewing!

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