Forces loyal to the Somali government patrol on the streets of the capital Mogadishu on New Year's Day this year. In spite of long-standing unrest, Finland's Directorate of Immigration feels that parts of Somalia are safe places to send convicted criminals. The Supreme Administrative Court is allowing the Somalis to stay in Finland while it considers an appeal on the matter.

Helsinki, Finland, August 24, 2007 – Three young Somali men convicted of committing street robberies in Helsinki will be allowed to remain in Finland for now. The Supreme Administrative Court ordered them not to be deported, until it has made a decision on their applications for the right to appeal their deportation order. A decision on the matter could take months.

A group of young men of Somali background were convicted of violently robbing people on the streets of Helsinki in 2005. Several of the group were given prison sentences at the end of that year.

The Directorate of Immigration decided to order the deportation of some of the members of the group. They appealed the decision to the Helsinki Administrative Court, which upheld the deportation orders. Two of the men are from Somaliland and one from Puntland, which the court found to be peaceful.

The men appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court to stop the implementation of the deportation order. The court decided on Monday that the deportation should not be take place while it deliberates a ruling.