 | ||
Assyrians in Finland began arriving noticeably for the first time in 1991. Currently there are 300 Assyrians in Finland. The majority of them living in Oulu while other smaller communities are seen in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, and as well in Turku and Jyväskylä. They are mostly refugees from Iraq and Iran; this is contrasted to the Assyrian population in neighboring Sweden, where the majority are from Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.
In April 1994, the community in Oulu founded the social club "Assyrian Society of Finland", recognized by the Finnish government. The club organizes trips, picnics, and Assyrian cultural events, and holds bi-annual elections. Mr Paulus is the current president of the club.
The population is split religiously between Church of the East and Chaldean Catholic members. Chaldean Catholics attend a Catholic church in Oulu where the services are conducted by Italian priests in the Finnish language. Church of the East members attend their services in Lutheran churches.
Some Assyrians have opened Pizza restaurants with names such as Nohadra and Nineveh, referring to Assyrian cities in their homeland.
Assyrian refugees who enjoy permanent residency status and those who have already obtained Finnish citizenship are eligible to vote in the country’s elections. Most Assyrians support the Green League. All are required to attend language classes which lasts from three to six months.