₦airaland Forum

https://www.aei.org/op-eds/finlands-persecution-of-african-dissidents-betrays-its-top-freedom-ranking/

Freedom House ranks Finland as the world’s freest country. It is one reason why Finland has become the destination of choice not only for Ukrainians but also for dissidents from farther abroad seeking asylum from the world’s worst dictators in Turkey, Iran, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Traditionally the Finnish government does immigration right. It publishes strict protocols and holds applicants accountable, rejecting those who approach immigration officers with false or exaggerated claims.

If only the Finnish judiciary were as diligent. In two recent cases, Finland’s judiciary and perhaps its foreign ministry and politicians have allowed scammers and human rights abusers to weaponize its judiciary as a mechanism for transnational repression and harassment.

Consider the case of Gibril Massaquoi, for example. A former Sierra Leone civil war-era commander, Massaquoi became an important resource for the Special Court for Sierra Leone as it prosecuted war crimes in the West African state. His efforts directly led to several convictions. As the court wound down, Massaquoi sought asylum in Finland. The controversial Swiss NGO Civitas Maxima raised funds as it targeted Massaquoi, leading Finland to arrest him. The problem? Civitas Maxima’s own witnesses acknowledged Civitas Maxima paid witnesses to say they personally saw Massaquoi commit a number of crimes in Liberia. The problem? At the time Massaquoi was under 24/7 guard in Sierra Leone and could not possibly have been guilty. Ultimately, a Finnish court dismissed the case against Massaquoi, but the damage was done: As profiteers and civil war rivals sought revenge, they forced an asylum seeker who had done the right thing into a multi-million dollar process, hijacking the Finnish judiciary for lawfare. To Finland’s credit, they compensated Massaquoi nearly a half million dollars for the harassment he suffered due to the malicious prosecution.

As troubling is the case of Simon Ekpa, the prime minister-in-exile of Biafra. Between 1967 and 1970, Biafra, chafing under Nigeria’s religious and ethnic discrimination, sought to secede. The Nigerian military response was brutal. The Nigerian Army killed up to 100,000 Biafrans outright, and then millions more died due to its land and sea blockade. Rather than be generous in victory, Nigerian leaders continued their repression. Under the rule of Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president between 1983 and 1985 and again from 2015 and 2023, Nigerian repression grew against ethnic Igbo in Biafra and Nigerian Christians more broadly.

It was against this context that Simon Ekpa, a prominent human rights activist, organized a referendum for Biafra. Tens of millions of Biafrans reportedly voted and overwhelmingly choose independence. Ekpa planned a convention in the coming week for the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence of Biafra. For Biafra to declare independence in Finland may seem strange, but it is not disqualifying. After all, Czechoslovakia’s declaration of independence took place in Washington, DC.

Fortunately, the Czechs never had to worry about Finnish police. In March 2024, as momentum for Biafran independence grew, the Nigerians charged Ekpa and dozens of other activists with terrorism. Last week, the Finns arrested Ekpa despite the spuriousness of Nigerian charges. As Biafrans seek freedom in response to Nigerian repression, it is ironic that the Finns response is to facilitate more repression. Otto Hiltunen, the head of Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, was unapologetic. He accused Ekpa of inciting “violence against civilians and public authorities and in other crimes in south-east Nigeria” by “campaigning, for example, on his social media channels.” What next? Arresting Uyghurs for exposing their abuses at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party? Eritreans who escaped the slavery of the Isaias Afwerki’s regime?

Finland coasts on its reputation of liberalism, human rights, and freedom. When it comes to Africans escaping repression at home, alas, it is a reputation the country no longer deserves.

michroskrve:
Stop analyzing nonsense. Do you reside 8n America. Ordinary American will suffer the Tax increment because the tax will be pass to the consumers

so says a man who can not run a simple kiosk

The US has a lot of leverage over all these countries. They are just making noise

Hell fire is not in the Bible

That's Good

since 2016

Only for Hezbollah to break the CF in two days time

public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. If that is the crime he committed, then he has nothing to worry about. It is a weak case, this is more like the Finish government bending backwards to the whining of Nigeria

My brother No mind those idiots

Disregard the Fake news. It is an anti Biafra propaganda from the ever lying zoo media

Simon won't step into the zoo anytime soon

God1000:
Hmm, almighty USA will deport people in this age and time, well he promised to do so during election campaign


Deporting massive numbers of immigrants does not solve any real problem except they and other MAGA true believers will have their hate vindicated. The immigrants including the descendants of immigrants have throughout history contributed in significant ways both to culture, life, and finances of countries all over the world, I don’t see any white man volunteering to pick potatoes, vegetables etc on the streets of USA, This is absolutely not going to benefit the economy or make America great again.

and that is where you are wrong kiddo

It is a very short video


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp6WiQw5ERk

it is a very short video


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAaxeTchvB8

ebubeson:
Please do vigil everyday if you can. After all, did they keep job for you if you stop doing vigil.

And those saying Christianity is scam, why are several developed countries having many Christians. Shebi dey do Christmas in December, to celebrate who? Jesus Christ Birth.

Why America never drop Christianity if na scam? You wey probably feel say you get sense pass others, wetin you and your gods don produce? You wey probably no believe in religion at all, what value have you added to your community?

Please do your Christianity to your satisfaction, pleasing God. Nigeria's problem is bad government, not Christianity. Abi na Christianity increase fuel?

If you want churches to build industries, let government give the churches money to build. You should not expect people to steal the nation's money, while the church does what the government should do. The church can do their part, but they are not the government.

What you practice in Nigeria isn't Christianity. It is African traditional religion in the garb of Christianity

Na high IQ and knowing exactly what we want. Also it has to do with entrepreneurial spirit, you don't have time for sentiments.

airsaylongcome:
And these ÁÌ solutions aren't software? Coded by non-humans?

What you needed a huge team to do can now be done by Ai and a small team, hence the layoffs.

Equatorial Guinea is a Spanish speaking country. In the video they are clearly speaking French with a strong Cameroonian accent.

Fake video. Equatorial Guinea is a Spanish speaking country. In the video they are clearly speaking French with a strong Cameroonian accent

ednut1:
Nawa. But lets be honest here if a Nigerian with South Africa origin was found to have used fake documents to get Nigerian citizenship. Same treatment would be meted on her.

people like you are disgusting

God1000:
https://gazettengr.com/julius-ogunro-why-another-donald-trumps-presidency-is-bad-for-africa/?

Why are you trying to sell him to me. I already like him, don't bother trying to endear him more to me

Manjapa:
What business can I use my one million naira for please.
Very urgent

300,000 CFA!, Here for Gabon, na to pay just three months of my shop rent. Three months only! and na just small space

It is actually legal

Ibela:
He is lucky he just got 500million warning order in this Case

Na exparte order

ogaemma:
This is the beginning of the Legal battle.
VDM will appeal the judgement.
This legal battle may get to the supreme court.
I just hope the judiciary will be very transparent about the case.
Let the Law take it's cause.

exparte order not judgement

Fake news

Chuksfela1:
Why fernandes playing today game, I think he's on red card

Follow the news

richmond500:
The Rivers state PDP governor, Siminialayi Fubara has lost his polling unit to APP but na APC deh vex

He is the sponsor of APP

[quote author= post=132138572]Edolites voted for whom they want to govern them for the next 8 years.

May Prosperity comes their way.

God bless Edo State.

God bless Nigeria 🇳🇬.

We Rise ✔️[/quote]God bless a country he as already forsaken? You must be high

Here is a gameplay of it on YT

But first. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, released in Japan as Cadillacs Kyouryuu Shinseiki, is a 1993 side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game by Capcom, based on the comic book series Xenozoic Tales.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaV5yB1_BbU

EreluRoz:
Peter Obi and his party are actually the reason why we are in this mess today, they are nothing but distraction

oh! So no be APC be the problem

Trump will be very foolish to attend that debat