- Assyrians in Finland
Assyrians in Finland began arriving noticeably for the first time in 1991.cite news|title=Assyrians in Finland|first=Patrous|last=Androw|date=2001-11-12|publisher=Zinda Magazine|url=http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/2001/11.12.01/index.php#TheLighthouse|accessdate=2007-03-05] Currently there are 245
Assyrians inFinland .Fact|date=March 2007 The majority of them living inOulu [ [http://www.aina.org/news/20071018142453.htm Assyrian Association Founded in Finland ] ] while other smaller communities are seen in the Finnish capital,Helsinki , and as well inTurku andJyväskylä .cite news|title=Assyrians in Finland|first=Rol Yacoub|last=Youkhanna|date=1999-05-19|url=http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/1999/apr19_1999.htm|accessdate=2007-03-05|publisher=Zinda Magazine] They are mostly refugees fromIraq andIran ; this is contrasted to the Assyrian population in neighboringSweden , where the majority are fromTurkey andSyria .Fact|date=March 2007In 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 andChaldean Catholic members. Chaldean Catholics attend a Catholic church in Oulu where the services are conducted by Italian priests in theFinnish language . Church of the East members attend their services inLutheran churches.Some Assyrians have opened
Pizza restaurants with names such asNohadra [fi icon [http://www.kaenkky.com/?p=k&id=31 Nohadra - Gourmet-henkinen ravintola] ] andNineveh , referring to Assyrian towns in their homeland.Assyrian refugees who enjoy permanent residency status and those who have already obtained
Finnish citizen ship are eligible to vote in the country’s elections. Most Assyrians support the Green partyFact|date=April 2007. Nearly all Assyrians are on government welfare. Except for a few Assyrians, most are unemployed and receive social services allowances. All are required to attend language classes which lasts from three to six months.ee also
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Simo Parpola , prominent Finnish AssyriologistReferences
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