Finland’s supreme court convicts MP Päivi Räsänen for inciting hatred against gay people

Finland’s Supreme Court has upheld a conviction against Christian Democrat MP Päivi Räsänen for inciting hatred against gay people, overturning two lower court rulings that had acquitted her, Yle reports.

The case centred on a 2004 pamphlet, Male and Female He Created Them, in which Räsänen argued that same-sex relationships challenge Christian teachings and described homosexuality as a “developmental disorder” and “disease.” The Supreme Court ruled that her statements constituted systematic hate speech and defamation, not protected religious expression.

Kimmo Nuotio, professor of criminal law at the University of Helsinki, called the ruling significant for its detailed analysis of the intersection between free speech, politics, religion, and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. “This is not about restricting religious discussion but about curbing harmful, factually baseless hate speech targeting homosexuals,” Nuotio told Yle.

The court emphasised Räsänen’s position as a public figure, stating that her claims—such as calling homosexuality a “disorder”—could cause distress and increase suicide risk among vulnerable groups, particularly young people in religious communities questioning their identity.

Räsänen, who faces 20 day-fines totalling €1,800, has called the verdict “shocking” and denies wrongdoing. Bishop Juhana Pohjola, also convicted for distributing the pamphlet, received the same penalty. Both had been acquitted in 2022 by a district court and again in 2023 by an appeals court, which deemed the text offensive but not criminal.

The Supreme Court’s 3–2 decision reflects deep divisions over balancing free speech and protection from hate. Nuotio urged the public to read the full judgment, calling it a valuable reference for debates on these issues.