Finland’s supreme court delivers split ruling in Päivi Räsänen hate speech case

Finland’s supreme court has issued a narrowly divided ruling against Christian Democrat MP Päivi Räsänen for incitement against a minority group, concluding a seven-year legal process that has drawn international attention, Yle reports.

The court found Räsänen guilty of one count of incitement for describing homosexuality as a “psychosexual development disorder” in a 2004 pamphlet. The 3-2 decision marked a rare split verdict in the highest judicial instance, with the majority ruling that her statement—made in her capacity as a physician and lawmaker—was degrading and unlawful.

A second charge, related to a 2019 tweet questioning the Lutheran Church’s participation in Pride events and citing biblical verses, was dismissed. The court determined that the tweet, while controversial, did not meet the threshold for criminal incitement. Legal experts clarified that the ruling does not restrict biblical quotations in public discourse.

The case has polarized public opinion, with Räsänen’s supporters—including conservative groups in Finland and abroad—expressing disappointment, while LGBTQ+ rights organization Seta welcomed the verdict as a affirmation of protections against hate speech. Politicians from multiple parties quickly weighed in, with Justice Minister Leena Meri (Finns Party) calling for reforms to the incitement law, though any changes would require broad parliamentary support.

Prosecutor General Ari-Pekka Koivisto, whose office brought the charges, stated satisfaction that the supreme court had addressed the case, emphasizing the importance of legal clarity on hate speech boundaries. The protracted timeline—spanning initial acquittals in lower courts, an appeal, and the final supreme court decision—has prompted criticism of Finland’s judicial efficiency.