Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors, gets it only half right, which is more than what most European ministers in charge of immigration can boast.

Minister Thors  was addressing the current situation situation in Helsinki involving the the Finnish Islamic Party (FIP), which is currently trying to get 5000 signatures in order to become registered as an official political party in Finland. The FIP has thus far been able to gather at least 1000 signatures, in its quest to participate in local Finnish elections.

Minister Astrid Thors, giving a speech to the Swedish People’s Party board on Friday stated that: “that those who are trying to set up the new party are aiming at the implementation of sharia law, which she said violates the principles of Islam.” It is very commendable that the minister does indeed understand the stark differences between European and Islamic (sharia) law, and that the latter has no place within Europe. But then Thors loses her way in her description of sharia law, which for some odd reason, she claimed that it “violates the principles of Islam.” If only it were true.

But most importantly is Thors’ observation that Finland’s political registration policies need to be changed, because presently, the present system doesn’t demand any respect for democracy and human rights from potential parties wishing to register.

“She said that when a new party is registered, there should be a check as to whether the organisation follows democratic principles. However, she pointed out that current law does not require that such groups agree with democratic aims or respect human rights. As Thors sees it, the establishment of the Islamist party would not advance intercultural dialogue within Finland. The organisation that is seeking to set up the party — which is led by Finnish men who have converted to Islam — has attracted plenty of attention although it remains far from collecting the 5,000 signatures of supporters necessary to found a new political party.”