News of the week in plain Finnish | Saturday 9.5.2026

Masks at protests.

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There has been a lot of discussion about protests this week. There was a protest in Tampere on May Day by the far-right Sinimusta movement. The police are investigating the assaults that occurred during the event. The police have not identified all the perpetrators of the assaults because the protesters were wearing masks.

Let’s talk more about it now.

Far-right demonstration in Tampere

Men dressed in black suits and masks surround a woman on her knees in the street.

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Photo: Ilkka Loikkanen

The police are investigating assaults that took place at an event organized by the far-right Sinimusta movement in Tampere on May Day.

Blue and Black protesters assaulted a young woman who was protesting against the demonstration. Many of the far-right protesters were wearing masks. That is why the police have not identified the perpetrators of the assault.

There were also 2 other assaults at the Tampere demonstration, which the police are investigating. The police have arrested 7 people.

Politicians on the mask ban

Blue and Black Movement May Day march in the center of Tampere 2026.

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Photo: Jani Aarnio / Yle

After the events in Tampere, there has been a discussion about whether protesters are allowed to wear masks.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo supports a ban on masks at protests. Orpo, a member of the National Coalition Party, says the government has not made any decisions yet.

The ruling Finns Party wants to ban masks altogether. Finns Party Interior Minister Mari Rantanen says that covering the face should always be banned in public places.

Police on mask ban

Blue and Black Movement May Day march in the center of Tampere 2026.

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Photo: Jani Aarnio / Yle

The police do not think masks need to be banned at protests. Police Inspector Konsta Arvelin says the current law is good enough.

The law states that you may not wear a mask in a public place if the intent is violence.

Police Inspector Arvelin believes that covering the face can sometimes be a basic human right. It may be important for a person not to be recognized, for example at a demonstration.

Repetition

Let’s repeat the most important things.

Police are investigating assaults that occurred at a far-right protest in Tampere. The protesters wore masks that covered their faces. Many politicians support a change in the law that would ban masks at protests.

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