More than 1,000 suspected hate crimes committed in Finland in 2022: Report

More than 1,000 suspected hate crimes were committed in Finland in 2022, according to a report that was published Thursday.

"The number of suspected hate crimes reported to the police increased by one-fifth last year," the Police University College noted in its annual report, "Hate crime reported to the police in 2022."

It was almost the same as in 2015, where 1,250 cases were recorded, it said. "This was the highest ever during the history of hate crime reporting."

The target motives of the crimes were categorized as ethnic or national background, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression of gender, religion or conviction and disability.

The number of hate crime reports based on religion was 9% lower than in 2021, and mostly Muslims were targeted, according to the report.

"About a third of the suspected crimes were defamations. Most common location for the suspected hate crimes based on religion or belief was the Internet," it said.