(Photo: Alliance Defending Freedom)
As the Finnish Supreme Court deliberates over the high-profile case of Päivi Räsänen, the former Minister of the Interior hopes for a resolution that affirms freedom of belief and expression. The case, which centers on her biblical views regarding marriage and sexuality, has brought significant attention both in Finland and across Europe.
Räsänen, along with Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola, faced legal scrutiny beginning in 2019 due to statements made in a tweet and a co-authored pamphlet. Despite her previous role overseeing Finland’s police force, Räsänen underwent a lengthy 13-hour interrogation after she declined to retract her statements. Both she and Bishop Pohjola were initially acquitted by the District Court of Helsinki and the Court of Appeal, but the state prosecution escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court hearing, which took place last Thursday, was seen by Räsänen as pivotal not just for her but for the broader discussion on religious expression across Europe. She expressed to the press, “Whatever the outcome of this trial is, my conscience is clear and my faith is firm.”
Räsänen hopes the court’s decision will champion the right to freely express one’s beliefs without repercussion. Bishop Pohjola echoed these sentiments, warning that a guilty verdict could stigmatize Christians and send a concerning message across religious communities. “Any possible conviction would not only stigmatise me, and the Lutheran Church body that I lead, as criminals but send a dangerous signal to all Christians and Christian denominations,” he stated.
The legal defense for Räsänen and Pohjola is being handled by the Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF). Matti Sankamo, their lawyer, remains optimistic about a favorable outcome, although the final verdict might not be delivered until spring 2026.
Paul Coleman, executive director of ADF, emphasized the gravity of the case, noting that a conviction could lower the bar for freedom of expression in Europe, potentially criminalizing others with similar views. Conversely, a not guilty verdict would strengthen legal protections for free speech, regardless of one’s stance on Räsänen’s beliefs.
Should Räsänen and Pohjola be convicted, they each face a €10,000 fine and the potential censorship of their statements. At the core of the trial is the debate over whether it remains acceptable to uphold biblical teachings when they conflict with prevailing societal norms. Räsänen remarked that despite the challenges, the journey has brought personal growth and spiritual reinforcement, with some individuals even exploring faith for the first time due to her ordeal.
Remaining serene amidst the ongoing legal proceedings, Räsänen expressed her faith in the process, saying, “I have felt all the time, from the beginning, that this process has been in God’s hands and I trust that He will bring this to the end, whatever the result will be.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
