Christian MP Päivi Räsänen has called for a repeal of all European ‘hate speech’ laws, following her conviction of ‘hate speech’ by the Supreme Court of Finland, her nation’s highest court.
Christian Today reports Dr. Räsänen was initially investigated in 2019 for a pamphlet published in 2004 that promoted traditional Christian views on marriage and sexuality.
Despite being acquitted twice previously in lower courts, state prosecutors appealed to the Supreme Court, leading to her recent conviction.
The Supreme Court ruled that the pamphlet, which the 66-year-old politician continued to share after she was charged, was “made available to the public and kept available to the public, opinions that insult homosexuals as a group on the basis of their sexual orientation.”
“FALSE TO CLAIM FREE SPEECH IS ALIVE IN EUROPE”
Following her conviction, Dr. Räsänen said it was false to claim that freedom of speech is “alive and well” in Europe.
Referring to Lutheran bishop Juhana Pohjola, who co-authored the pamphlet and was also found guilty, she said, “the bishop and I are ‘criminals’ for peacefully sharing our beliefs in the public square by way of the pamphlet.”
“I wrote the pamphlet years before the law under which I have been prosecuted was passed.”
COURT RULES MP IS A CRIMINAL DESPITE NOT INCITING VIOLENCE OF HATRED
“In finding me guilty, the court acknowledged that the content in question did not incite violence or hatred.”
“Even so, it ruled that expressing those views in that context was criminal.”
Dr. Räsänen argued that the court judgment, which orders the destruction of the pamphlet, is censorship that takes Europe back to a darker time in its history.
“AMBIGUITY OF THE LAW EFFECTIVELY CENSORS FINNISH PEOPLE”
The ambiguity in the laws over what exactly constitutes “hate speech” also serves, she argues, as a means of censoring people who are unsure what would and would not fall foul of the law.
The grandmother of 12 further warned that more people may be prosecuted for historic comments.
Dr. Räsänen’s case has drawn the attention of the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), which expressed its disappointment over the ruling and called for freedom of speech across Europe.
In a statement, it said, “The EEA affirms the dignity and protection of all people, including those who identify as LGBTQ+, and rejects all forms of hatred and violence.”
“At the same time, it is deeply concerned that this ruling lowers the threshold for criminalising peaceful expression and risks setting a troubling precedent for freedom of expression and religion across Europe.”
WASHINGTON POST CONDEMNS FINLAND RULING
Meanwhile, the previously progressive Washington Post has condemned Finland’s Supreme Court for its conviction of Dr. Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola, warning that the ruling threatens free expression well beyond Scandinavia.
In an editorial, the newspaper which has introduced more conservative opinions under billionaire owner Jeff Bezos, called the prosecution “the real crime,” and argued that maintaining a culture of free speech is as important as any constitutional text.
“Too often, Americans take for granted their First Amendment birthright.”
“COURTS SHOULD NEVER DECIDE WHICH VIEWPOINTS ARE CORRECT”
“Courts should never decide which viewpoints are correct and which are not,” the editorial asserted.
“That is especially true when it’s a minority viewpoint, as Räsänen’s is in Finland.”
“The court acknowledged that her writing did not incite violence or hatred while still finding her guilty.”
The Post noted that if Finland could prosecute a sitting legislator and the chair of an international religious organisation with millions of members, ordinary citizens holding similar views could not feel safe expressing them publicly.
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