It lasted over 4 years in Finland a legal battle, in which the centre was the Christian views of Päivi Räsänen. Finally, the ultimate Court found the head of the Christian Democratic organization guilty of "images of homosexuals as groups due to their sexual orientation".
The first accusation afraid 3 charges, including the book “Man and female Made them”. The publication was published in 2004, and 15 years later her author was accused of sowing hatred. The same charge was heard by Lutheran bishop Juhan Pohjol, who distributed the book.
Two courts of lower instance, the territory Court and the Helsinki Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed all charges relating to the case. However, the prosecutor decided to appeal and mention the case to the ultimate Court of Finland, which issued a conviction on March 26 by 3 to 2 votes. According to the court, a book that defends matrimony as a relation between 1 man and 1 female and Scripturally motivates the fact that homosexual relationships conflict with Christian anthropology, “publishing and keeping in circulation opinions that offend homosexuals as a group
because of their sexual orientation.’
Both Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola were convicted
for a fine of EUR 1800 and EUR 1,100 respectively. 5000 euros is to be paid by the foundation that released the book. The judgement besides requires the removal of ‘fragments declared illegal from online publication’. At the same time, the ultimate Court dismissed the second allegation of the prosecution regarding Räsänen's post on Twitter, in which she quoted the Bible verse from Saint Paul's letter to the Romans (1:24-27). According to the accusers, he insulted the homosexual community and instigated hatred. Finnish politician posted this entry, criticizing the Lutheran Church in her homeland for supporting the ideology of lgbt and gay parade
in Helsinki in 2019. From the Twitter entry, the hunt for Räsänen began. It was only later that she was reminded of her book and the Bible - based answers she gave in the tv program “What did Jesus think of homosexuals?” These words
were on the basis of the 3rd plea. ultimate Court
He did not comment on the last case due to the fact that the prosecution did not appeal the 3rd plea, so Räsänen’s acquittal remains in force
for participating in the debate.
Finnish politicians are considering referring to the European Court of Human Rights. ADF global will proceed to defend her cause. After proceeding the judgment, she said: “I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the court did not recognise my fundamental human right to freedom of expression. I stick to teaching in line with my Christian faith, and I will proceed to defend my right to share my beliefs in public.”
Human rights defenders stressed that the verdict of the Finnish court could affect the future of democracy and freedom of speech not only in Finland. For it clearly shows,
that Christians are denied certain rights that the lgbt community demands for themselves in the name of selective tolerance. The executive manager of ADF International, which legally supported Räsänen, recalled that “freedom of speech is simply a pillar of democracy”. "The conviction for a spiritual book published respective decades ago – even before the law on which it was convicted was passed – is simply a scandalous example of state censorship. This decision will have a strong deterrent effect erstwhile it comes to the right of everyone to free speech," said Paul Coleman. Kristen Waggoner, who heads Alliance defence Freedom, stressed that “this judgement is simply a clear warning: no democracy is immune to the erosion of fundamental freedoms. punishment
for freedom of expression, especially erstwhile it resists
on profoundly rooted spiritual beliefs, the very foundations of free societies are being undermined."
Päivi Räsänen is 67 years old. She's the parent of 7 children.
And a grandma of 5 grandchildren, a doctor and a politician.
Since 1995 she has been a parliamentarian from the Christian Democratic Party, which she has led for many years. She was Minister of the Interior of Finland from 2011 to 2015.
AB, PAP
