Man charged with defaming Finland’s 2024 Lucia after racist abuse campaign

A 37-year-old man from Lahti has been formally charged with defaming Daniela Owusu, Finland’s 2024 Lucia, in a case linked to a wave of racist abuse, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The charges were filed in Päijät-Häme District Court, with the alleged offence taking place in Lahti. Further details remain confidential until the trial begins. This marks the second prosecution stemming from the abuse targeting Owusu, following an initial charge in early April.

Owusu, selected as Finland’s Lucia for 2024, faced over a hundred racist comments and private messages, alongside thousands of racist posts on social media. Her relatives also received abusive messages.

An earlier Yle investigation revealed that the hate campaign led to prosecution considerations against three individuals. One additional prosecutor is still reviewing potential charges.