In a significant move for the future of free speech and religious expression, Finnish politician Päivi Räsänen has escalated her legal battle to the European Court of Human Rights. The case, which has stirred international attention, challenges a recent conviction by Finland’s Supreme Court.
Räsänen, a long-serving Member of Parliament and former interior minister, was found guilty in a close 3-2 vote by the Finnish Supreme Court. This conviction overturned prior acquittals and revolved around a 2004 booklet, “Male and Female He Created Them,” which discusses biblical perspectives on marriage and sexuality. As a result, Räsänen was fined 1,800 euros ($1,950) and required to pay legal fees.
In her appeal, Räsänen contends, “I hope that the Court in Strasbourg will find that the judgment issued in Finland violates the freedoms of expression and religion protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.” She emphasizes that her publication intended to convey the Christian understanding of marriage, which she believes falls under religious freedom.
The Supreme Court’s decision, according to Räsänen, misrepresented the context of her writings by isolating sentences without considering the broader message. She clarifies that she was convicted not for the original publication in 2004 but for sharing it again on social media in 2019 amidst public scrutiny. Initially, police investigations found no grounds for legal action, but the Prosecutor General later initiated charges.
Räsänen disputes claims that her writings demean homosexuals, stating, “In my book, I repeatedly state that all people have equal human value.” She warns that the ruling threatens legal certainty and stifles public discourse, noting that most judges in previous court stages did not find her work criminal.
The conviction’s repercussions have extended beyond Finland. Recently, Räsänen was denied entry to the UK following her disclosure of the conviction on a travel application. Similarly, Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who faced a related conviction for publishing the same booklet, was also barred from entering the UK. Pohjola, now part of the European court appeal, cautioned against governmental interference in religious teachings.
Alliance Defending Freedom International is supporting Räsänen and Pohjola in their appeal. Lorcán Price, a legal counsel for the organization, remarked, “Päivi Räsänen faces criminal conviction for peacefully expressing her Christian beliefs. Her ban from entering the United Kingdom is completely disproportionate and unnecessary.”
Price called on the European Court of Human Rights to accept the case as a defense of democratic principles, warning that criminalizing peaceful religious expression sets a dangerous precedent for free debate in Europe.
Despite the prolonged legal ordeal, Räsänen remains steadfast in her beliefs. “From the very beginning, I have said that I will remain faithful to my conviction, rooted in a Christian worldview based on the Bible,” she affirmed. “I will continue this fight for freedom of speech and faith with confidence and hope.”
© Christian Daily International
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
