BREAKING: Christian MP Convicted of “Hate Crime” for Quoting Bible Verse

Today, Finland’s Supreme Court convicted longtime parliamentarian Dr. Päivi Räsänen of a hate crime for sharing a 2004 church pamphlet that set forth traditional biblical teachings on human sexuality and marriage.

Strikingly, the same court unanimously acquitted her on related charges stemming from a 2019 social media post in which she had quoted the identical passages of Scripture while questioning her church’s decision to sponsor a Pride event.

Räsänen, who has represented the Christian Democrats in Parliament since 1995 and previously served as Finland’s interior minister, has been a consistent advocate for the sanctity of life. She stood trial alongside Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who had published the pamphlet in question for their congregation.

In a narrow 3-2 decision, the justices found the pair guilty under a provision of Finland’s criminal code that addresses “war crimes and crimes against humanity,” specifically, for making available to the public material deemed to “insult homosexuals as a group on the basis of their sexual orientation.”

The court explicitly acknowledged that the pamphlet neither incited violence nor hatred, and it described the offense as “not particularly serious.” Nevertheless, it ordered the decades-old document removed from public circulation and destroyed.

By contrast, the Supreme Court unanimously cleared Räsänen of wrongdoing in connection with her 2019 online remarks, which referenced Romans 1:24-27.

“I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the court has failed to recognize my basic human right to freedom of expression,” Räsänen stated. “I stand by the teachings of my Christian faith, and will continue to defend my and every person’s right to share their convictions in the public square.”

She indicated that she’s currently consulting legal counsel regarding a possible appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, adding: “This is not about my free speech alone, but that of every person in Finland. A positive ruling would help to prevent other innocent people from experiencing the same ordeal for simply sharing their beliefs.”

Räsänen has long been a prominent voice in Finnish politics defending biblical convictions on life, marriage, and sexuality. She and Bishop Pohjola have endured repeated investigations and legal proceedings since 2019 simply for articulating their faith publicly.

Kristen Waggoner, president and CEO of ADF International, which represented the defendants, described the partial conviction as “a dark day for freedom in Europe and across the Western world.”

“Punishing peaceful expression undermines the very foundation of free societies,” Waggoner said. “The right to speak freely, including on matters of faith and morality, is firmly protected under international law. We will continue to stand with Dr. Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola as they consider an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.”

The case originated with Räsänen’s 2019 social media post and lower courts had twice acquitted both defendants unanimously, yet prosecutors pressed the matter all the way to the nation’s highest tribunal.

The outcome is particularly noteworthy because the Supreme Court itself conceded that the pamphlet contained no call to violence. This case underscores mounting concerns that expansive “hate speech” statutes are increasingly being deployed against Christians who openly affirm historic biblical teachings on human life and family.

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