SC imposes ban on activities of neo-Nazi group PVL

The National Police Board on Friday instructed police to prevent the operation of the Nordic Resistance Movement ((Finnish acronym PVL) following an order from the Supreme Court, said an official press release.

The Supreme Court ordered a temporary ban on the PVL and its operation to be discontinued until the court has awarded a final ruling in the matter.

The Supreme Court, however, at the same time has granted the Nordic Resistance Movement the right to appeal against the decision of the Turku Court of Appeal concerning the abolishment of the association.

According to Chief Superintendent Heikki Lausmaa of the National Police Board, the board instructs police departments to prevent the operation of the Nordic Resistance Movement if such activities are noticed.

“All associative activities by the Nordic Resistance Movement are prohibited. The movement is not allowed to arrange demonstrations or display its symbols or flag in public either. The use of the symbols can be interpreted as signalling the operation of the abolished organization.”

The District Court and the Court of Appeal have previously accepted the demand of the National Police Board and declared the Nordic Resistance Movement abolished.

The demand of the National Police Board is based on the fact that the association essentially acts against the law and morality. Among others, the association disseminates hate speech concerning immigrants, sexual minorities and Jewish people.

The Supreme Court will award its final ruling later. The average processing time of appeals in the Supreme Court is approximately one year after the right to appeal has been granted.

Earlier, on September 29, 2018 the appeals court in Turku dismissed the PVL's appeal on the decision by a court in Tampere area in November 2017 to ban the movement considering it to be a neofascist organization.

The appeals court agreed with the lower court decision that the activities of the Resistance Movement are in contravention of law, good manners, and public interest.

It noted in its decision that the movement has pursued racial discrimination and hatred speech, and its activities cannot be considered to be normal criticism of the immigrant policies within the limit of the freedom of speech.

The movement has around 100 members. The appeals court decision concerns also an auxiliary organization and district groups.