Finnish MP to Address U.S. Congress on Speech Restrictions
Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish member of parliament, is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in Washington this week. Her appearance will discuss the implications of expanding speech restrictions in Europe, particularly as she awaits a Supreme Court decision regarding a criminal case tied to a Bible verse tweet.
The hearing, titled “Europe’s Threat to Speech and Innovation: Part II”, will explore the impact of European Union speech laws on U.S. innovation and democratic expression. This discussion will also focus on the Digital Services Act.
Räsänen, aged 66, has been embroiled in legal proceedings since her 2019 tweet that questioned the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland’s support for an LGBT pride event. Quoting Romans 1:24–27, the tweet sparked police complaints and led to a criminal investigation, resulting in charges of agitation against a minority group under Finnish hate speech laws.
Her case was most recently heard by the Supreme Court of Finland in October 2025, following two acquittals by lower courts alongside Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola. The charges encompass her tweet, a pamphlet co-authored with Pohjola in 2004, and comments made during a radio interview.
Räsänen, who served as Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015, has consistently defended her statements, asserting that they stem from her religious beliefs. She has remained steadfast, stating, “I stand here not only to defend my own right to speak freely, but to defend the freedom of every person to express deeply held beliefs without fear of punishment.”
Her defense team argues that penalizing Räsänen for citing the Bible infringes on rights protected by both Finnish and international human rights law. Concerns have been raised that a conviction could set a precedent for similar prosecutions across Europe, potentially leading to increased censorship.
Lorcán Price from ADF International is also scheduled to speak at the hearing, emphasizing the broader implications of European speech restrictions on American legal standards and platforms.
Räsänen has highlighted that throughout her legal ordeal, she has received support from various individuals, including those within the LGBT community, who have been moved to explore faith. She views the process as an opportunity to publicly discuss Christian teachings.
Paul Coleman of ADF International has criticized hate speech laws, stating, “Criminalizing peaceful speech through so-called ‘hate speech’ laws not only silences important conversations — it endangers democracy itself.”
As the Supreme Court’s decision looms, the outcome of Räsänen’s case could have significant ramifications for freedom of expression both in Finland and across Europe.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
