HELSINKI (13 November 2023) – The Helsinki Court of Appeal is expected to rule on the cases of Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola, on 14 November. Both faced trial on 31 August-1 September on criminal charges of “hate speech” for publicly sharing their faith-based beliefs. The August trial followed a unanimous acquittal in March 2022, after which the Finnish state prosecutor appealed.
Räsänen, Finnish parliamentarian and former Minister of the Interior, had voiced her convictions on marriage and sexual ethics in a 2019 tweet, a 2019 radio discussion, and a 2004 church booklet. Bishop Pohjola was charged for publishing Räsänen’s booklet. Their case garnered global attention this year, as human rights experts voiced concern over the threat this case poses to free speech in Finland and beyond.
“In a free society, everyone should be allowed to peacefully…
