Finnish MEPs Criticize Davos Invitation to Iranian Foreign Minister

Finnish Members of the European Parliament have joined international calls for the World Economic Forum to reconsider its invitation to Iran's Foreign Minister ahead of the Davos summit. The criticism follows a report by an Iran watchdog group detailing the regime's alleged killing of thousands of civilian protesters, which has sparked demands to freeze out Iranian officials from the prestigious gathering. The Nordic region maintains significant ties to the WEF, with several Finnish business leaders and former ministers regularly attending the annual meeting in Switzerland. The Finnish government, through its Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki's Government District, has consistently condemned human rights violations in Iran within EU forums. This stance aligns with broader European Union foreign policy directives that link diplomatic engagement to human rights benchmarks. Finnish political parties across the spectrum, from the centre-right National Coalition Party to the left-wing Green League, have historically supported sanctions against Iranian officials implicated in violence. The Eduskunta's Foreign Affairs Committee has previously debated Finland's position on EU-Iran relations, emphasizing the need for a unified European response. A Finnish MEP from the Social Democratic Party stated, 'Platforming representatives of a regime accused of such brutality contradicts the values the Forum claims to promote.' The invitation presents a diplomatic challenge for Nordic countries balancing principled foreign policy with global economic engagement. The final decision rests with the WEF organizers, but the pressure from European lawmakers, including those from Finland, is mounting as the summit approaches.