Published in: Helsingin Sanomat, 5th of November, 2003

- FINES FOR RECLAIMING ABANDONED BUILDING OF THE IRAQI EMBASSY

- THE HOUSE THAT WAS DECAYED, DUE TO THE COMMERCIAL BLOCKAGE, WAS RECLAIMED 1st OF MAY, 2001

- The assizes of Helsinki has given fines to 24 people, because they invaded into abandoned house, that is located in the yard of Iraqi embassy. The incident took place 1st of May, 2001. Six of the people were minors during the time of this crime and they were convicted to a offence against property, done as a minor. These people received ten daily fines. The other participants received fifteen daily fines, from the same crime as the minors. The charge against the man who negotiated on the behalf of the squatters, was rejected. The court couldn't find evidence, that he had been inside of the building or even participated to the reclaiming. 

- The building that was reclaimed on 1st of May, had been an apartment house for the staff of Iraqi embassy, but it has been empty since 1994. According to the Iraqi chargé d' affaires, there wasn't enough money to maintain the house, after UN had set Iraq into a blockade. The idea behind the reclaiming, was to have apartments and premises for the youth. One of the squatters said in the questioning, that he would like to move into the house. Many of the squatters said, that they have a "moral permission" to invade into abandoned house. According to the squatters, it's a bigger crime to keep a good house empty, than to reclaim it. The windows and interior were already smashed and there was no electricity, water, heating and the sewers didn't work in the building. When giving the sentence, the court thought it as a mitigating issue, that the squatters were able to clean the house and the yard. Many of them had a own rake with them, while reclaiming the building. Around fifty people took part to the reclaim. At first, because of the location and the owner of the building, they were suspected of outrageous disturbance to the public peace, but the prosecuting authority thought the crime to be a much slighter. Additionally the prosecutor left seventeen people out from the legal actions, because they never entered into the yard of Iraqi embassy. Total of 31 people were sued, but six of them were not reached in time to give the judicial writ. Among these people, was also the famous candidate to the Parliament, from the Green Party, who is known for his habit of smoking hashish and from other radical actions.

- At first the Iraqi chargé d' affaires, suspected that the act had a political motivation, because there were two Kurd's among the squatters. At first the lawyer of Iraq demanded 30 000 euros for the damage, but later announced, that "if they don't pay, will have to do what the law says". At the court room, Iraq didn't have any demands at all. Iraq has a one delegate in Finland and he's not really active at all.