First charges filed in racist hate campaign against Finland’s Lucia Festival winner

A 70-year-old man from Helsinki has been formally charged with defamation over racist abuse directed at Daniela Owusu, the 2024 Lucia Festival winner, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

The Helsinki District Court received an indictment accusing the man of defamation on December 16, 2024. The document remains otherwise confidential under Finnish legal procedure.

Owusu, selected as that year’s Lucia—an annual Swedish-Finnish winter tradition—faced over 100 racist messages sent directly to her, along with thousands more on social media. Her close relatives also received abusive messages.

Prosecutors are still reviewing cases against two other individuals linked to the campaign. One prosecutor told Yle they aim to finalise decisions before summer.

The abuse followed Owusu’s selection as Lucia in December 2024, prompting widespread condemnation in Finland. Organisers of the festival described the backlash as shocking and unacceptable.