The Finnish Supreme Court has granted the right-wing Nordic Resistance Movement the right to appeal a lower court decision about whether to outlaw the organisation.
In the meantime however, while the appeals process is pending, the NRM will have to cease activities under a temporary banning order.
Thursday’s ruling is the latest step in an ongoing legal process for the NRM. In 2017 the group was banned by the Pirkanmaa District Court in a case brought by the National Police Board who said the movement’s activities are against the law.
The NRM appealed the District Court’s decision to the Appeals Court, and were allowed to continue their activities while the appeal process continued.
The Turku Appeals Court upheld the decision of the lower court, and now the NRM has appealed to Finland’s Supreme Court.
”According to the police, the conditions for abolishing the Nordic Resistance Movement exist because the movement is fundamentally against the law and good order, and also spreading hate speech against immigrants, sexual minorities and Jews and questioning the Holocaust and idolizing fascists, and accepting violence among their members” the Supreme Court wrote in a statement.
The Nordic Resistance Movement has disputed the claims and according to them, their activities fall within the legal limits of free speech and free association. in the line within limits of freedom of expression and association.
The last time a far right movement was banned in Finland was back in 1977.
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