Fatbardhe Hetemaj

{{Short description|Finnish Politician}}

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Fatbardhe Hetemaj (born 20 August 1985){{Cite web |url=https://seura.fi/ilmiot/reportaasit/fatbardhe-hetemaj-lapsuutensa-raunioilla-kosovossa-onneksi-perheemme-paasi-suomeen/ |title=Fatbardhe Hetemaj lapsuutensa raunioilla Kosovossa: "Onneksi perheemme pääsi Suomeen" |last=Toivonen |first=Hannu |date=1 August 2015 |website=Seura |language=fi |access-date=17 September 2023}} is a Kosovo-born Finnish politician, author, and 2009 "Refugee Woman of the Year".{{Cite web |date=6 March 2009 |title=Fatbardhe Hetemaj is Refugee Woman of the Year |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/fatbardhe_hetemaj_is_refugee_woman_of_the_year/5730416 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Former University student wins title |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/4248497.former-university-student-wins-title/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Worcester News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=16 July 2012 |title=Article: "Refugee Woman of the Year: Fatbardhe Hetemaj from Kosovo" |url=https://www.kosovodiaspora.org/article-refugee-woman-of-the-year-fatbardhe-hetemaj-from-kosovo/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Kosovo Diaspora |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last=Pyykkönen |first=Miikka |date=2012 |title=FREEDOM, CIVILITY AND ACTIVENESS: On the government of leisure self-formation of Finnish multicultural youth |journal=Nordic Journal of Migration Research |volume=2 |url=https://journal-njmr.org/articles/10.2478/v10202-011-0023-z/galley/47/download/ |access-date=7 August 2022 |page=20|doi=10.2478/v10202-011-0023-z |s2cid=55825167 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |title=Kesko Oyj: Welfare society and taxation was the theme of the Day of Commerce |url=https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2013-01/25748034-kesko-oyj-welfare-society-and-taxation-was-the-theme-of-the-day-of-commerce-399.htm |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=FinanzNachrichten.de |language=de}}{{Cite web |date=7 March 2013 |title=Refugee Woman of the Year worries about next generation |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/refugee_woman_of_the_year_worries_about_next_generation/6528377 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=James |date=18 March 2009 |title=Finnish Refugee Council award puts ordinary women in the spotlight |pages=3 |work=Helsinki Times |url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/helsinkitimes/2009mar/issue11-91/helsinki_times11-91.pdf |access-date=7 August 2022}}

Hetemaj was born to Emine and Miftar Hetemaj in Skenderaj, Kosovo, and she is of Kosovo Albanian descent.{{Cite web |last=SUIKKANEN |first=PÄIVI |date=25 May 2018 |title=Hetemaj-dokumentin ohjaaja Olli Laine ihmettelee: "Miksi sodan traumoista puhuminen on suomalaisille niin vaikeaa?" |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2018/05/25/hetemaj-dokumentin-ohjaaja-olli-laine-ihmettelee-miksi-sodan-traumoista |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=yle.fi |language=fi-FI}}{{r|:5}} She has three siblings Përparim Hetemaj, Mehmet Hetemaj, and Fatlume Hetemaj.{{Cite web |last=Buchert |first=Peter |date=28 May 2018 |title=När flykten är det enda alternativet |url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/47c32fb2-b590-402b-b8e6-24489366bd70 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=www.hbl.fi |language=sv-FI}} In the fall of 1992, Hetemaj and her family arrived in Finland after fleeing the regime of Slobodan Milosevic and lived in a refugee center in Oulu.{{Cite web |title=Tunnetut maahanmuuttajat kertovat: Näin meidät otettiin vastaan Suomessa |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/a/2015101720529700 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}} From 2005 to 2008, she studied Business management and Combined studies at the University of Worcester. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts with Honours in Business Management.{{Cite web |title=University of Worcester graduation – Wednesday, November 5 |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/3817938.university-of-worcester-graduation-wednesday-november-5/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Worcester News |language=en}}

In 2009, the Finnish Refugee Council named Hetemaj "Refugee Woman of the Year" for her work against racism In 2010, she published her book "Matkalaukullinen aurinkoa : pakomatka pohjoiseen" (Sun in a suitcase: an escape to the north).{{Cite book |last=Roiha |first=Heli, Hetemaj, Fatbardhe |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/837925520 |title=Matkalaukullinen aurinkoa: pakomatka pohjoiseen |date=2010 |publisher=Minerva |isbn=978-952-492-408-5 |location=Helsinki |language=Finnish |oclc=837925520}}

In 2011, she ran as a coalition candidate for the National Coalition Party but lost the election.{{Cite web |date=18 April 2011 |title=Immigrant Candidates Fare Poorly |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/immigrant_candidates_fare_poorly/5348304 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=11 June 2010 |title=Kokoomus nappasi vuoden pakolaisnaisen |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kokoomus_nappasi_vuoden_pakolaisnaisen/5579281 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}{{Cite web |date=27 March 2013 |title=Yhteystiedot – Helsingin Kokoomus |url=http://www.helsinginkokoomus.fi/fi/edelliset+vaalit/edelliset+vaalit/eduskuntavaalit+2011/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130327122431/http://www.helsinginkokoomus.fi/fi/edelliset+vaalit/edelliset+vaalit/eduskuntavaalit+2011/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-03-27 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=archive.ph}} In 2012, Hetemaj was elected as one do the City Councilors for the Helsinki City Council.{{Cite web |title=Fatbardhe Hetemaj odottaa lasta |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/a/4237baaf-8b0c-41a1-8d67-c01fab11fa0a |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}{{Cite web |date=16 December 2013 |title=Helsingin valtuustossa 6 tuppisuuta – 14 istui kaikissa kokouksissa |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/helsingin_valtuustossa_6_tuppisuuta_-_14_istui_kaikissa_kokouksissa/6986594 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}{{Cite web |date=29 October 2012 |title=Pakolaisnaiset nousivat Helsingin valtuustoon |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kuntavaalit/a/2012102816259852 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}} On 28 July 2015, she appeared alongside Erkki Tuomioja, Ozan Yanar, and Paavo Arhinmäki at an event against racism in Helsinki that attracted nearly 15,000 people.{{Cite web |date=28 July 2015 |title=Diversity rally gathers 15,000 in Helsinki |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/diversity_rally_gathers_15000_in_helsinki/8188896 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=News |language=en}}

A documentary film about Hetemaj and her family premiered at the Refugee Film Festival in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Homeland Kosovo-Finland – Refugees Welcome Film Fest |url=https://refugeesfilmfest.com/film/homeland-kosovo-finland/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |language=en-US}}