A protester demanding recognition of Palestine and holding a sign at President Alexander Stubb’s public meeting at the Valkea Shopping Centre in Oulu on 23 October 2024. LEHTIKUVA
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A campaign urging Finnish businesses and organisations to declare themselves “Apartheid-Free Zones” has gained momentum, with 85 entities joining the initiative. The campaign aims to pressure Israel to adhere to international law and respect Palestinian human rights.
Participants in the campaign pledge to support the international Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which promotes non-violent measures to oppose Israel’s policies.
By aligning with the campaign, businesses and organisations avoid commercial ties with companies connected to Israeli settlements or other alleged human rights violations.
The campaign, launched in Finland in May, has attracted businesses and organisations from 14 cities, including Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku. These participants range from restaurants and theatres to tattoo parlours and accounting firms. Each has displayed a sticker featuring a Palestinian poppy to signal their commitment to the boycott.
Salla Korhonen, a member of the campaign team, said the response has been positive.
“Many organisations have shown readiness to adjust their operations to avoid supporting Israel’s human rights violations,” Korhonen said.
Participants specifically commit to boycotting certain goods and services, including products from Israeli settlements and companies like HP, Siemens, and Wolt. Campaign organisers argue these firms have ties to Israel’s settlement activity or policies they describe as apartheid.
Cultural institutions join movement
The Finnish Museum of Photography is among the most prominent organisations to join. Its director, Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger, explained that the decision aligned with the museum’s values.
“Human rights and social justice are central to our mission,” Rastenberger said. “Participating in targeted boycotts is a tangible way to advocate for Palestinian rights and demonstrate our commitment.”
The museum has displayed the apartheid-free sticker at both its locations. Rastenberger added that the initiative complements the museum’s principles of maintaining safe and inclusive spaces.
The campaign has so far established apartheid-free zones in cities including Espoo, Kuopio, and Oulu. The full list of participants is available on the Sumud website, which coordinates the campaign in Finland.
Context on the BDS movement
The BDS movement began in 2005, led by Palestinian civil society groups. It calls for measures to end international support for Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and to address alleged violations of international law. Critics argue that the movement is counterproductive to peace efforts, while proponents view it as a necessary tool for justice.
Supporters in Finland hope the campaign will grow, urging more businesses and organisations to commit to the boycott and to publicly identify as apartheid-free zones.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
