Following what has been called Oulu's immigrant gangrape, some expatriates have expressed concern that Oulu newspaper Kaleva is encouraging xenophobia and looking to 'destroy the international image' of Oulu.

"It is xenophobic," objected a student, "there's a new article every day." A few were stronger still in their criticism. "Kaleva played up the rape without any basis," commented a resident.  "It's fermenting hatred."

Of several recent Kaleva items connected to foreigners in Finland, most showed strong reactions and counter-reactions to the rape. One reported on increased crime rates in Lapland amongst those with invalid residence permits, without specifying the crimes involved.

Many expatriates were slow to comment, however.

"Are you seriously implying that now most Oulu citizens will see every immigrant as a potential rapist? That hardly expresses faith in anyone's intelligence." objected a local teacher. "And what about the victim in all of this, anyway - how does she feel about this?"

"The whole immigration debate isn't unique to just Oulu and it isn't a new thing - it's going on everywhere, and has been for a long time. This is just the latest part of it in Oulu," commented an IT professional.

"Finns have offered my family a helping hand," said a Dutch lady. "In my experience natives here are, like us, individualists. There is by and large no 'us' and 'them,' it's mostly 'you' and 'me.' Of course journalists print what they print, that's the nature of the job."

"I need a coffee," she said.