Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen Convicted for Hate Speech Over Church Pamphlet

Finnish Court Convicts MP for “Hate Speech” Over 2004 Pamphlet

In a landmark decision, Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen has been convicted by the Supreme Court for expressing traditional views on marriage and sexuality in a 2004 pamphlet. The court ruled these views constituted “hate speech” against homosexuals.

Alongside Räsänen, Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola was also found guilty for his role in publishing the pamphlet. The court’s decision was based on the pamphlet’s public availability, which was deemed insulting to homosexuals based on their sexual orientation.

The court’s judgment noted that despite a preliminary investigation beginning in 2019, Räsänen continued to disseminate the pamphlet through her personal online platforms in 2019 and 2020.

In contrast, Räsänen was unanimously acquitted of charges related to a 2019 tweet where she cited a Bible verse to criticise her church’s sponsorship of a Pride event. The court determined that this tweet did not meet the criteria for incitement, as it was supported by biblical text.

The court ordered Räsänen to pay fines amounting to several thousand euros and required the contentious statements to be removed and destroyed. Her convictions fall under the “war crimes and crimes against humanity” section of the Finnish criminal code.

Räsänen, who previously served as Finland’s Minister of the Interior, expressed her shock at the verdict and is contemplating an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. “I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the court has failed to recognize my basic human right to freedom of expression,” she stated. “I stand by the teachings of my Christian faith, and will continue to defend my and every person’s right to share their convictions in the public square.”

Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International, commented on the ruling, emphasizing the importance of free speech in a democratic society. “Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy. It is right that the Court has acquitted Päivi Räsänen for her 2019 Bible verse tweet,” he said. He critiqued the conviction for the pamphlet as an example of “state censorship” and warned of its chilling effect.

ADF CEO Kristen Waggoner added, “This ruling is a stark reminder that no democracy is immune from the erosion of fundamental freedoms. Punishing peaceful expression, especially when it is based on deeply held religious convictions, undermines the very foundation of free societies.”