{"id":18533,"date":"2023-09-01T14:53:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T13:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=18533"},"modified":"2024-03-13T15:13:19","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T14:13:19","slug":"finnish-bible-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/finnish-bible-trial","title":{"rendered":"Finnish Bible Trial concludes\u00a0with final attempt to criminalise \u201cinsulting\u201d Christian speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18533\" class=\"elementor elementor-18533\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-feba79c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"feba79c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f11448d\" data-id=\"f11448d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c379684 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"c379684\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>Longstanding politician P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen leaves court after facing trial for expressing Christian beliefs in a Tweet, radio interview, and 2004 church pamphlet<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>\u201cThe point isn\u2019t whether it is true or not, but that it\u2019s insulting\u201d, argues State prosecutor\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>PRESS CONFERENCE with R\u00e4s\u00e4nen TODAY at 17:00 CEST, 16:00 GMT, 11am ET - <a href=\"https:\/\/events.teams.microsoft.com\/event\/b7fc6903-6fc2-46fa-9af5-77b0b29de4f2@c88562dc-cf95-4155-b379-dd3ef818d3ff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>REGISTER HERE<\/b><\/a><\/li> <\/ul><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7e882a elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"a7e882a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Paul-Cross-Exam.mp4\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-343b196 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"343b196\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">HELSINKI (1 September 2023)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> &#8211; The Finnish trial of the Bible has concluded before the Helsinki Court of Appeal, where longstanding parliamentarian and former government minister P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen stood trial on charges of \u201chate speech\u201d on account of three expressions of her Christian faith \u2013 in a tweet, in a 2004 church pamphlet, and in a 2019 radio interview. The medical doctor and grandmother of ten was charged for \u201cagitation against a minority group\u201d, a provision that falls under the section of the Finnish Criminal Code titled \u201cWar Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.\u201d <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u2019m hopeful that all these charges will be acquitted. It\u2019s a very important verdict for freedom of speech and of religion and Finland, and also has consequences across Europe, but I\u2019m hopeful for a good result,<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d said R\u00e4s\u00e4nen upon leaving the court.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s tweet, which began a lengthy police investigation which brought forth three charges, challenged her Church leadership as to their justification for sponsoring a Pride event. She attached a picture of a Bible verse from Romans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 1.1px;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">The court is expected to deliver a verdict by November 30<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 1.1px;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 1.1px;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 1.1px;\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00ab\u00a0You can cite the Bible\u00a0\u00bb&#8230;but certain \u201copinions\u201d about it are \u201ccriminal\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The prosecutor commented in her opening statement that \u00ab\u00a0the authors of the Bible are not indicted\u00a0\u00bb today, but those who interpret what he said literally are: <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00ab\u00a0You can cite the Bible, but it is R\u00e4s\u00e4nen&rsquo;s interpretation and opinion about the Bible verses that are criminal.\u00a0\u00bb<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Throughout her cross-examination this morning, R\u00e4s\u00e4nen was asked multiple times by the prosecutor if she would update or remove what she had said about marriage and sexuality in her 2004 church pamphlet, titled \u201cMale &amp; Female He Created Them\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">The gist of the State prosecutor\u2019s examination of P\u00e4ivi was this: would she recant her beliefs? The answer was no &#8211; she will not deny the teachings of her faith. Dragging an individual through a grueling criminal trial simply for expressing their religious beliefs is not a marker of democracy and \u201cprogress\u201d . We will continue to stand with P\u00e4ivi and await the decision of the court as to whether expressing Biblical teaching is really a crime in Finland<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u201d commented Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International who are backing P\u00e4ivi\u2019s legal defense. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The prosecution further argued that the intent behind the expression of faith was irrelevant. R\u00e4s\u00e4nen should have known, said the state prosecutor, that her words could be offensive to certain people and therefore refrained from speaking. Neither did it matter, according to the prosecutor, if what she had written was \u201ctrue\u201d; what mattered was that it was insulting.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s defence team, co-ordinated by ADF International, highlighted the strong protection that freedom of speech enjoys in international law, as well as being an integral part of Finnish democracy. They submitted to the court that her use of the word \u201csin\u201d in her tweet \u2013 which the prosecutor had highlighted as \u201cinsulting\u201d and therefore unlawful -was quoted directly from the Bible, and any judgement condemning its usage would directly condemn the Bible itself.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Freedom to speak, and Freedom not to Listen<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Also standing trial was Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who was charged with \u201chate speech\u201d for publishing the 2004 pamphlet which R\u00e4s\u00e4nen had written.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Taking the stand, the Bishop highlighted that the pamphlet stated the equal worth and dignity of each person, no matter their sexuality.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Speaking to the Court, he noted: <i>\u201cCondemning sinful deeds does not mean questioning a person&rsquo;s worth and dignity. These are completely different things. The prosecutor is propagating an understanding that is fully against the Christian understanding. Condemning sin does not question a person&rsquo;s dignity.\u00a0\u00bb<\/i><\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Explaining the need for free speech within a democracy, the Bishop further commented, <i>\u00ab\u00a0The very idea of religious freedom is that you are free to teach the Christian message, even if someone finds it offensive, but then you can exercise your right not to listen.\u201d<\/i><\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Bishop further added that he would not seek the censorship of teachings that offended him.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Press conference registration<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">ADF International will host a press conference after the appeal trial on 1<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">st<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> September at 17:00 CEST.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Dr. P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen MP, Bishop Juhana Pohjola, Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International, and Finnish criminal defense lawyer, Matti Sankamo, will be available for questions after a brief statement by R\u00e4s\u00e4nen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/events.teams.microsoft.com\/event\/b7fc6903-6fc2-46fa-9af5-77b0b29de4f2@c88562dc-cf95-4155-b379-dd3ef818d3ff\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Please register here<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to access the Teams link: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/events.teams.microsoft.com\/event\/b7fc6903-6fc2-46fa-9af5-77b0b29de4f2@c88562dc-cf95-4155-b379-dd3ef818d3ff\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/events.teams.microsoft.com\/event\/b7fc6903-6fc2-46fa-9af5-77b0b29de4f2@c88562dc-cf95-4155-b379-dd3ef818d3ff<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">To support P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s case, visit <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adfinternational.org\/FreeSpeechOnTrial\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">www.ADFinternational.org\/FreeSpeechOnTrial<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span 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data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"c8ed878\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Paivi Standing (1)\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTU5NjAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyM1wvMDNcL3BhaXZpLXN0YW5kaW5nLTEud2VicCIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImM4ZWQ4NzgifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/paivi-standing-1.webp\" data-width=\"500\" data-height=\"500\" aria-label=\"P\u00e4ivi standing outside smiling in her native Finland\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Paivi-4.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"c8ed878\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Paivi 4\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDYxNywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2FkZmludGVybmF0aW9uYWwub3JnXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIyXC8wMlwvUGFpdmktNC5qcGciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiJjOGVkODc4In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Paivi-4-1024x1008.jpg\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"1008\" aria-label=\"P\u00e4ivi will face trial at the Finnish Supreme Court.\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The criminal trial of Finnish parliamentarian P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola is underway before the Helsinki Court of Appeal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":43007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[64,36,219,27],"class_list":["post-18533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-freedom-of-speech","tag-paivi","tag-paul-coleman","tag-religious-freedom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Finnish Bible Trial concludes\u00a0with final attempt to criminalise \u201cinsulting\u201d Christian speech - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Longstanding politician P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen leaves court after facing trial for expressing Christian beliefs in a Tweet, radio interview, and 2004 church pamphlet\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/fr\/news\/finnish-bible-trial\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Finnish Bible Trial concludes\u00a0with final attempt to criminalise \u201cinsulting\u201d Christian speech Finnish Bible Trial concludes; final attempt to criminalise &quot;insulting&quot; Christian speech\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cThe point isn\u2019t whether it is true or not, but that it\u2019s insulting\u201d, argues State prosecutor as Finnish MP faces final day of &quot;hate speech&quot; trial.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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