I read here often questions about why we talk about politics all the time. We talk about it here because it translates into everyday life. If politicians of the ruling coalition in the government express racism, regular people feel they have support on doing that too, as if they are backed-up by the government. As a result, we have a society full of hate against some of its members.
[Confronting hostility in a new homeland](https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/columns/columns/318-reader-s-letter/23940-confronting-hostility-in-a-new-homeland.html)
“**One year ago**, my family and I made the move from Pakistan to Finland. In Pakistan, I served as an associate professor and head of the artificial intelligence department at an engineering university. Now, I am a senior AI researcher at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. /…/
A chilling encounter on the evening of July 26th has left an indelible mark on my psyche. As I was returning home from work, I was confronted by two young men on scooters. They began with passing comments on me and making circles around me. I first took them as messed up college kids who were on a ragging spree. But the things got worse when they began trying to strike me. They kept threatening me until the harassment escalated when one spat on my neck from behind.
They wanted to spit on me repeatedly by making circles around me Being a person who avoids trouble and has never initiated a fight, I tried to defuse the situation by warning them that I would involve the police. Upon threatening to involve the police, I was suddenly attacked from behind with a strong blow to my neck. The force of the hit caused me to drop my spectacles, leaving me visually impaired. After the attack, both individuals fled the scene.
Despite promptly reaching out to the police, their delayed response, a worrying 35 minutes later after 2 phone calls, left me anxiously searching for my spectacles, finally resorting to call my wife to assist me. The incident occurred near the entrance of the Business College.
Upon the police’s arrival, I directed them towards a surveillance camera located at the Holiday Inn hotel’s entrance, which should have captured the entire incident. They assured me they would investigate the matter further and advised me to return home.
This deeply unsettling event has left my family and me in a state of distress and anxiety. As I gazed into my attackers’ eyes, I could only see hostility and hatred. I can’t help but connect their actions to the ongoing immigrant protests and the anti-immigrant sentiments harbored by the government.
Such policies inevitably fuel hate, often in dormant right-wing supporters or individuals with anti-minority prejudices. Encouraged by the perceived endorsement of the government, they target minorities, believing they are silently supported. This disturbing pattern has been seen in other countries too where the government stokes anti-immigrant fires.
While the police have promised to investigate, I remain skeptical about the outcome. The perpetrators are still at large, likely to repeat this abhorrent behavior with another foreigner.”
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by ildar_lag