Espoo fined €10,000 for exposing student to religious songs at school events

The Finnish city of Espoo has been issued a €10,000 conditional fine for repeatedly subjecting a student to religious discrimination during school celebrations, the Non-Discrimination and Equality Board ruled on May 15.

The board found that in 2024, the student—whose personal convictions conflict with religious observance—was forced to listen to the hymn Suvivirsi at a spring celebration in primary school and the song Varpunen jouluaamuna (The Sparrow on Christmas Morning) at a secondary school Christmas event. The city failed to notify the student or their guardians in advance about the religious content, nor did it provide an option to leave the events unnoticed.

In addition to the fine, the board recommended Espoo pay €2,500 in compensation to the student, who reported feeling discriminated against for six years, from 2018 to 2024. The board dismissed claims related to earlier incidents but noted the student’s vulnerability due to their age and limited ability to influence the situation.

The student’s guardian argued that Varpunen jouluaamuna, though not officially listed in hymnals, contains explicit religious references to God and angels and has been included in Lutheran church collections. They stated that prior notice would have allowed the student to leave during the performance. The school, however, defended its choice, calling the song a cultural tradition rather than a religious act and noting it was performed as a student-led presentation, not a communal singalong.

The board criticized Espoo for neglecting its duty to promote equality, particularly as the guardian had raised concerns about compliance with regulations on religious activities in schools for a decade. The city may appeal the decision in administrative court.