Inside a Modern-Day Heresy Trial
It was exactly one year ago, on a cold, dark winter evening in January 2022, when Paul Coleman arrived in Helsinki for the modern-day heresy trial of Finnish MP Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola.
It was exactly one year ago, on a cold, dark winter evening when our team arrived in Helsinki for the modern-day heresy trial of Finnish MP Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola.
Prosecutor files appeal against Finnish MP’s major free speech victory
#FreeSpeechOnTrial
Topic | Freedom of Speech
Update: After a unanimous court decision and strong recommendation by the police not to proceed with prosecution in the first place, the Finnish state prosecutor has filed her appeal to push criminal proceedings against MP and bishop into their fourth year.
Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola were unanimously acquitted of all “hate speech” charges on 30 March. The Helsinki District Court concluded that “it is not for the district court to interpret biblical concepts”. However, the Finnish state prosecutor has publicly indicated her intent to push criminal proceedings against the MP and bishop into their fourth year by appealing the victory.
“I am so grateful the court recognized the threat to free speech and ruled in our favour. I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after being acquitted. Although I am grateful for having had this chance to stand up for freedom of speech, I hope that this ruling will help prevent others from having to go through the same ordeal,” said Päivi Räsänen after her victory.
The Finnish Prosecutor General brought three criminal charges against Päivi Räsänen at the end of April 2021. The medical doctor, mother of five, and grandmother of ten was accused of having engaged in “hate speech” for publicly voicing her opinion on marriage and human sexuality in a 2004 pamphlet, for comments made during a 2019 radio debate, and a tweet she directed at her church leadership. Bishop Pohjola, the Chairman of the International Lutheran Council, was charged for having published the pamphlet that Räsänen authored.
“I will defend my right to confess my faith, so that no one else would be deprived of their right to freedom of religion and speech. The more Christians keep silent on controversial themes, the narrower the space for freedom of speech grows.”
Päivi Räsänen, MP Tweet quote
Police investigations against Räsänen started in June 2019. As an active member of the Finnish Lutheran church, she addressed the leadership of her church and questioned its official sponsorship of the LGBT event ‘Pride 2019’, accompanied by an image of a Bible text. Räsänen has already attended several lengthy police interviews about her views and had to wait over a year for the General Prosecutor to decide whether to continue with the prosecution. That decision was made in April 2021 and ADF International will continue supporting Räsänen’s defence and the right for everyone to freely share their beliefs.
Päivi Räsänen has served as a member of the Finnish Parliament since 1995, and was Minister of the Interior from 2011-2015. She is a medical doctor, mother of five children, and has ten grandchildren.
“Freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of democracy. The Finnish Prosecutor General’s decision to bring these charges against Dr. Räsänen creates a culture of fear and censorship. If committed civil servants like Päivi Räsänen are criminally charged and tried for voicing their deeply held beliefs, it creates a chilling effect for everyone’s right to speak freely, ”said Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International and author of “Censored“.
It was exactly one year ago, on a cold, dark winter evening in January 2022, when Paul Coleman arrived in Helsinki for the modern-day heresy trial of Finnish MP Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola.
The Finnish state prosecutor has filed her appeal against the unanimous court decision which exonerated a Finnish MP and bishop of “hate speech” allegations for sharing their faith-based beliefs.
After a unanimous court decision and strong recommendation by the police not to proceed with prosecution in the first place, the Finnish state prosecutor intends to push criminal proceedings against MP and bishop into their fourth year.
“A Finnish member of parliament has won on all charges in a groundbreaking free speech trial involving a Bible tweet…”
A Finnish court has upheld the right to free speech by dismissing all charges against Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola.
A Finnish court is expected to rule on the Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola’s free speech case on 30th March. Both stand accused of having engaged in “hate speech” for publicly sharing their faith-based beliefs.
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