By Hammad Kahlun
International Correspondent
Scandinavian News Finland
HELSINKI Finland has recorded the highest number of hate crime reports in its history, according to new data released by the Police University College. The majority of these crimes were driven by racial or ethnic bias.
In 2024, Finnish police documented 1,808 suspected hate crimes, marking a 13% increase compared to 2023. Most cases involved verbal insults, threats, and harassment, while assaults were the second most reported type of offense.
Researchers say nearly 70% of hate crime cases were motivated by the victim’s ethnic or national background. Other motives included disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.
According to researcher Jenita Rauta, the rise in hate crimes targeting people with disabilities highlights a broader social divide, where vulnerable groups are increasingly targeted. She added that improved awareness and reporting have also contributed to higher numbers.
Despite the growing concern, Finland has no specific “hate crime” category in its Criminal Code. Instead, hate motive is treated as an aggravating factor that can increase punishment.
The data also showed that hate crimes based on religion slightly declined in 2024, with Muslims being the most frequent victims. Many of these incidents occurred online. The report concluded that the most common
perpetrators were individuals from the majority population expressing hostility toward minority groups, with Syrians being the most targeted community.
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