Finnish media is reporting on plans to set up an Islamic political party in Finland. According to the report, the goal of the new party will be “to promote healthy habits, and the Islamic lifestyle.” Specific proposals include ending the sale of alcoholic beverages at Finnish grocery stores and kiosks and legislation that would sanction Halal slaughter and the religious circumcision of boys. The report notes that the organisers of the press conference were native-born Finnish converts who hoped to broaden the group to include other ethnicities. The report cited the new party’s chairman Abdullah Tammi as favoring the implementation of Sharia law in Finland:
Asked if the party wanted Sharia law to be implemented in Finland, Tammi said that such a move would be “fantastic”. He noted that the purpose of the law is to prevent crime in advance. However, he was quick to add that the party is not seriously seeking a dominant position in Finnish politics or the building of an Islamic society here. According to Tammi, the group does not have any contacts with any international Muslim organisation; he emphasized that it has emerged from the needs of Finns.
An officer of the Islamic Society of Finland, the local member of the Federation of Islamic Organizations In Europe (FIOE), reportedly “welcomed the idea in the sense that all Muslim problems are common.” FIOE is an umbrella group representing the global Muslim Brotherhood network in Europe.