Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen appeals hate speech conviction

Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen is appealing her conviction for hate speech to the European Court of Human Rights. The Finnish Supreme Court found Räsänen guilty for content in a 2004 pamphlet regarding Christian views on marriage and human sexuality, ruling that the material insulted homosexuals as a group.

In addition to Räsänen, Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola and the Luther Foundation Finland were also convicted in relation to the publication. The Supreme Court ordered that the statements in the booklet be removed from public access and destroyed.

Following the conviction, Räsänen’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to the United Kingdom was cancelled, preventing her from attending a religious freedom conference in person. While she was scheduled to speak at the event, she will be forced to participate virtually unless a visa is granted. Räsänen has stated that her appeal aims to determine if fundamental rights of religious freedom and free speech remain protected in Finland and across Europe.