Finnish MP accused of hate speech for 'Bible tweet' takes case to Supreme Court

The case stems from a tweet Mrs Rasanen posted in 2019 questioning her church's sponsorship of a Pride event featuring a Bible verse, a 2004 pamphlet discussing Christian teachings on sexuality published by Bishop Pohjola and remarks made during a radio debate on theology and human identity.

The last of the three charges was dropped by the prosecution in this latest trial in the Supreme Court.

At today's hearing, ADF International, the legal counsel of the pair, said prosecutors had reiterated their claim that Mrs Rasanen's words were "insulting" and that "intent is irrelevant".

The prosecution called for Mrs Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola to be criminally convicted for "incitement against a group", for fines to be imposed and for the tweet and pamphlet to be censored from the internet.

The MP 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 defend the content of the Bible", ADF International stated.

Regarding her Bible tweet, Mrs Rasanen 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.

Mrs Rasanen, who has been an MP since 1995, added that the social media post received a positive response and that many Christians shared the same concerns.

The Supreme Court hearing follows unanimous acquittals previously delivered by both the District Court in March 2022 and the Court of Appeal in November 2023, each finding that Mrs Rasanen's expressions fell within the scope of free speech and religious freedom protected under Finnish and international law.

Mrs Rasanen said: "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."

Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International, added: "This case strikes at the heart of democracy: whether people are free to express their convictions without fear of state prosecution.

"Criminalising speech simply because it reflects a traditional belief is incompatible with a free and open society."

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