Akaa councillor calls immigrants “pests” and “trash people” and sees no issue

Akaa city councillor Anton Murola (Finns Party) has repeatedly used racist and derogatory terms on social media to describe people with foreign backgrounds, including calling them “pests,” “hairy faces,” and “trash people.” He refers to white people as “flour faces.”

Murola, 48, who chairs the city’s audit board, acknowledged in an interview with Yle that his language is “sharp” but said he does not see a problem with it as an elected official. He stated that his social media posts represent only himself, not his council group, party, or the city of Akaa.

Yle reviewed Murola’s posts across platforms, particularly on X, where he publicly shares information about crimes committed by people with foreign backgrounds and often comments that “the left loves this.”

Kimmo Nuotio, professor of criminal law, described the posts as such strong anti-immigration rhetoric that they could be assessed for incitement against a population group.

Murola described his communication style as sometimes provocative, saying that “even a small filter has started to disappear” on immigration issues. He claimed he tries to “shake the reader” in the name of honesty and admitted he is likely one of the sharper voices in his own camp online.

He defended his use of the Finnish racial slur “neekeri” (equivalent to the N-word), arguing it was a “perfectly normal word” during his school years and that African Americans use it among themselves.

Murola has also repeatedly criticized left-wing thought on social media. In July, he referred to leftism as a “brain disease” in a post on X, which drew widespread criticism. He called it “bad humour” and said he does not censor himself much.

His communication is primarily aimed at supporters. “If people who probably wouldn’t vote for me anyway because of my party are offended, that’s not my loss,” he said.

Murola insisted his social media presence is separate from his council work, stating he has had a similar style for as long as social platforms have existed. He said that when he comments on or raises issues unrelated to Akaa, he considers himself outside his official duties.

In 2021, while serving as a deputy councillor, Murola publicly apologized in a local newspaper for a Facebook post in which he suggested a building inspector “go to the trash” and “get cement shoes.” He said his work in the council itself remains professional, and cooperation with other councillors is normal.

Heli Einola-Virtanen, chair of the Finns Party council group in Akaa, declined to comment on Murola’s posts, saying she had not seen them or their context. After hearing a few examples, she said they “sound really harsh.” The group has not discussed the posts internally.

Akaa has no formal social media guidelines for councillors, though the topic has been addressed in training for new members. Group leaders have previously reminded members to behave appropriately, including online.

Janita Puomila (National Coalition Party), chair of Akaa city council, said she hopes all councillors behave appropriately both on social media and elsewhere.