Vantaa board seeks to suspend rapper Milad Dehghan from city roles

Vantaa’s City Board has proposed suspending rapper and Finns Party deputy councillor Milad Dehghan from all municipal positions of trust because of a criminal conviction, Yle reports.

Dehghan is a member of the city’s Committee for Urban Culture and Wellbeing. Helsinki District Court sentenced him last November to seven months’ probation for aggravated dissemination of information violating personal privacy and aggravated defamation.

Dehghan called the proposed suspension disproportionate, saying the case has no connection to Vantaa’s decision-making. He said he had continued in city roles for almost four years after the incident without any specific instances of misconduct or neglect being identified. “I see this as a politically motivated witch hunt,” he told Yle by email.

The Court of Appeal upheld the district court’s ruling. The conviction is not yet final, as Dehghan can still seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. He told Yle he is preparing an application for leave to appeal and the appeal itself.

The City Council is due to consider the proposed suspension in two weeks. Under the City Board’s proposal, it would remain in effect until the conviction becomes final. After a conviction, the council may also consider removing Dehghan from his municipal positions under the Local Government Act.

Dehghan is also known as the host of the Leveli podcast and as rap artist Slim Mill.