The Supreme Court of Finland will hear today the landmark case of Finnish parliamentarian Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who have been accused of “hate speech” for publicly expressing their Christian beliefs.
The case, stemming from a 2019 tweet quoting the Bible and a 2004 pamphlet, comes after two unanimous acquittals—by the Helsinki District Court in 2022 and the Court of Appeal in 2023.
Räsänen, a faithful Lutheran, former Minister of the Interior and medical doctor, faces charges related to her expressions on marriage and sexuality, while Pohjola was charged for publishing the church booklet. If convicted, they could face fines and censorship of the tweet and the booklet.
“In a free society, it should never be a crime to share a Bible verse or express beliefs rooted in faith … No one should face criminal charges for peacefully voicing their convictions,” Räsänen said ahead of the hearing. Bishop Pohjola added, “The process has been long, and that’s why I’m pleased that it is coming to an end. I look forward to the hearing with confidence … This case is larger than me or Päivi Räsänen. It is about whether Finland will remain a country where freedom of speech and religion are respected in practice, not just in theory.”
The controversy began when Räsänen questioned the involvement of the Lutheran Church in a Helsinki LGBT ‘Pride’ event, with reference to the Bible’s Book of Romans, chapter 1, verses 24-27. After being reported to the authorities, accused of hate speech, she underwent extensive police questioning, and the Prosecutor General filed three charges in 2021.
Paul Coleman of ADF International, coordinating Räsänen’s defense, said, “Criminalizing peaceful speech through so-called ‘hate speech’ laws not only silences important conversations—it endangers democracy itself.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling, expected in the coming months, will determine the outcome for Räsänen and Pohjola and could set a precedent for freedom of speech and religion in Finland and across Europe.
