Christian Pamphlet is ‘Hate Speech,’ Finland’s Supreme Court Rules

The court found that certain statements in the 2004 pamphlet constituted criminal ‘insult’ under Finland’s hate speech statutes.

Paivi Rasanen, a longtime member of Finland’s parliament and former interior minister, was found guilty of “hate speech” for writing a pamphlet expressing traditional Christian views of marriage and sexuality. ADF International

A 2004 pamphlet explaining traditional Christian views of sex and marriage is “hate speech,” Finland’s Supreme Court ruled on March 26, fining a member of parliament, a Lutheran bishop, and a church group hundreds of dollars. The verdict, the culmination of years of prosecutions, sends a chilling message on free speech, advocates warn.

The Supreme Court of Finland delivered a split decision in a closely watched case involving Paivi Rasanen, a longtime lawmaker and former interior minister. Also convicted was Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola, whose church foundation published the pamphlet.