Over 200 university researchers sign petition opposing Finnish deportation bill

LONDON (AA) – More than 200 researchers from universities in Finland and abroad have signed a petition calling on a parliamentary committee to reject a controversial deportation bill seen as a response to Russia’s alleged use of “instrumentalized migration,” local media reported Monday.

The researchers argue that the Finnish government has failed to prove that an increase in the number of asylum seekers would represent a security threat to Finland, according to national broadcaster Yle.

If adopted as law, the legislation would allow the Nordic country’s border authorities to refuse to accept asylum applications in certain circumstances in hope to prevent the alleged deliberate funneling of asylum seekers to Finland's border checkpoints from Russia.

The petition argues that the number of people seeking asylum in Finland last year was within normal levels, said Yle.

Critics say that bringing the deportation law into force would contravene the Finnish constitution as well as several international treaties that Finland has signed, the broadcaster added.

The bill has been criticized by officials at several institutions including the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, who said the draft bill "raises a number of significant human rights concerns," calling on Finland to reject it.

Parliament's administration committee was set to further discuss the legislation on Monday. For the bill to become a law, it would require a five-sixths majority in Parliament — meaning the government would need support from opposition parties.