- Prosecution seeks conviction for quoting the Bible as Finland’s highest court hears final appeal
- Decision expected to set precedent for free speech and freedom of religion across Europe
- Päivi Räsänen will be available for questions at an online press conference hosted by ADF International on Oct 30th at 16:00 CET (11:00 EDT)
HELSINKI (30 October 2025) – The long-running “Bible Tweet” case against Finnish parliamentarian Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola today reached the Supreme Court of Finland, marking a historic moment for freedom of speech and religion in Europe.
Both stand accused of “hate speech” for publicly expressing their faith-based beliefs on marriage and sexuality. ADF International coordinates their legal defence.
The Supreme Court hearing follows the unanimous acquittals previously delivered by both the District Court in March 2022 and the Court of Appeal in November 2023, each finding that Räsänen’s expressions fell fully within the scope of free speech and religious freedom protected under Finnish and international law. Despite this, the prosecution has pursued the case to the highest level, insisting that Räsänen’s “interpretation” of Bible verses amounts to a criminal act.
“I stand here not only to defend my own right to speak freely, but to defend the freedom of every person to express deeply held beliefs without fear of punishment. My case will show whether quoting the Bible can become a crime in a free country. I trust that the Finnish Supreme Court will uphold the rule of law and the fundamental freedom to speak openly about faith. No one should be censored for sharing the timeless truths of Scripture,” said Päivi Räsänen, who was met by a crowd of journalists and photographers as she entered the Court this morning.
Criminalizing Belief: Prosecution Argues Bible Verses Can Be ‘Hate Speech’
Päivi Räsänen was greeted at court this morning by a crowd of supporters.
In the hearing, prosecutors reiterated their claim that Räsänen’s words were “insulting” and that “intent is irrelevant” — and that what matters is how readers interpret the text.
The prosecution called for Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola to be criminally convicted for “incitement against a group”, for fines to be imposed, and for Räsänen’s tweet and pamphlet to be censored from the internet.
Räsänen said that in a 2004 pamphlet she wrote, on Christian teachings on marriage and sexuality—for which she is accused of “hate speech”—she wanted to emphasise that “the message of grace is for all people, including members of minorities”.
She said the purpose of the pamphlet was to “to defend the content of the Bible”.
On her Bible tweet, Räsänen said she was concerned by the decision of Lutheran church leadership to support a Pride event, as “if the church leadership teaches values contrary to the Bible, it undermines the credibility of Scripture”.
She said the issue was “no longer merely about marriage, but about people’s salvation” and that as a church council member, she felt it was her duty to engage in discussions about the matter.
Räsänen added that the tweet received a positive response and that many Christians shared the same concerns.
“This case strikes at the heart of democracy: whether people are free to express their convictions without fear of state prosecution. Criminalizing speech simply because it reflects a traditional belief is incompatible with a free and open society,” said Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International, serving on Päivi Räsänen’s legal team.
The process is the punishment
Räsänen, a medical doctor, grandmother, and parliamentarian of more than 25 years, has faced three separate criminal charges for expressing her long-held Christian beliefs.
The charges stem from a 2019 tweet questioning her church’s sponsorship of the Helsinki Pride event and featuring a photo of Bible verses, a 2004 pamphlet discussing Christian teachings on sexuality published by Bishop Juhana Pohjola, and remarks made during a radio debate on theology and human identity.
The last of these three charges was dropped by the prosecution in this latest trial in the Supreme Court.
The prosecution claimed that all three expressions constitute “agitation against a minority group” under Finland’s “hate speech” laws, which are codified under the section of the Criminal Code titled “War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.” Throughout the investigation, Dr. Räsänen has endured more than 13 hours of police interrogation, during which she was repeatedly asked to explain her theological understanding of the Bible.
Free Speech on Trial
“In a democracy, no one should fear criminal prosecution for expressing their faith,” said Coleman. “This case is about far more than one tweet—it is about whether quoting the Bible is permissible in modern Finland. The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to affirm the foundational freedoms that protect everyone, regardless of belief.”
Räsänen, who served as Finland’s Minister of the Interior from 2011–2015 and has been a Member of Parliament since 1995, remains steadfast. Following her earlier acquittal, she stated that she would “not back down from the truth of the Gospel” and that her case “concerns the right of everyone to speak freely.”
Press Conference Registration
ADF International will host a press conference after the Supreme Court trial on 30th October at 16:00 CET.
Dr. Päivi Räsänen, 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 Räsänen.
Please register here to access the Zoom link to the press conference.
To request an interview with Räsänen or a member of her legal team from ADF International, contact Sofia Hörder at [email protected] / +43 676 362 5093
Photos from today can be found here.
