Already 100 Finnish companies and communities have committed to boycotting Israel

100 Finnish companies and communities have declared themselves Apartheid Free Zones. Apartheid Free Zones participate in boycotts to pressure Israel to respect international law and the human rights of Palestinians.

The Palestinian-led BDS movement aims to cut off economic, political and cultural support from the apartheid Israeli government in order to make Israel comply with international law, end apartheid and allow the return of displaced Palestinians.

The campaign, which spread to Finland in May, encourages businesses and communities to join the boycott. Already 100 places in 16 different cities have declared themselves Apartheid Free Zones. These include restaurants, theatres, associations, tattoo parlours and even an accounting office.

“Businesses and communities have enthusiastically joined the campaign. Many have been willing to make changes in their own actions to avoid supporting Israeli human rights abuses,” says Salla Korhonen, who is part of the campaign team.

Apartheid Free Zones can be recognised from a sticker adorned with a Palestinian poppy.

By declaring itself an Apartheid Free Zone, companies and communities commit to targeted boycotts by the international BDS movement. In addition to products from Israel, the boycott list includes HP, Siemens and the delivery service Wolt, among others. All the companies on the list have a clear link to Israel’s illegal settlements or Israeli apartheid and other human rights violations against Palestinians.

One of the Apartheid Free Zones is the Finnish Museum of Photography. According to Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger, the museum’s director, participation in the campaign was an easy choice:

“Human rights and social justice are important values at the Finnish Museum of Photography, and they are reflected in our exhibitions and other activities. Participating in targeted boycotts is a concrete way to make a difference and at the same time a way to communicate our commitment to human rights of Palestinians.”

The Finnish Museum of Photography has two locations, both of which have a sticker stating that the premise is an Apartheid Free Zone.

“Our museum has a safer spaces policy, and declaring ourselves an Apartheid Free Zone is in line with this goals: we want everyone to feel safe when visiting the museum.”

The programme office House of Waraabe also has a sticker stating that it is an Apartheid Free Zone.

“We want to promote social justice through our activities,” says Aicha Manai, the deputy executive director. “Participating in the Apartheid Free Zone campaign was an obvious choice for us. The Apartheid Free Zone sticker at the House of Waraabe is a small way of showing solidarity. This commitment is also shown in our everyday activities, such as taking our purchases through the BDS filter first.”