A Finnish parliamentary representative has been convicted of "hate speech" by the courts in relation to a pamphlet published in 2004 that supports traditional Christian teachings.

On March 26, 2026, the Finnish Supreme Court ruled that Päivi Räsänen committed a crime when she publicly expressed her views on marriage and sexual ethics, producing material that was deemed offensive to a specific group. She has been fined €1,800 but indicated her intention to appeal.

Following the verdict, Räsänen stated that she is seeking legal advice to potentially take the case to the European Court of Human Rights. She emphasized that this issue affects not only her freedom of speech but also that of every Finnish citizen.

She added that a ruling in her favor could help prevent others from facing similar situations simply for expressing their beliefs. The controversial 2004 publication, titled *He Created Them Male and Female: Homosexual Relationships Challenge the Christian Understanding of Humanity*, outlines a Christian perspective on gender and sexuality. In the text, Räsänen expressed concerns about the potential social and psychological effects of „normalizing gay relationships,” particularly on young people.

After the ruling, the politician expressed her shock and disappointment that the court did not recognize the fundamental right to freedom of expression. She reiterated her commitment to her Christian faith and her desire to defend everyone’s right to publicly express their convictions.

At the time of the pamphlet’s publication, same-sex marriage was not legal in Finland. The court also convicted Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who published and made the pamphlet available online.

In response to the decision, ADF International described the ruling as a „warning to everyone.” The organization, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group, works globally to protect religious and free speech rights. They argue that if a church brochure written decades ago can be censored, anyone who publicly expresses their views could find themselves in a similar situation. They warned that ordering the destruction of written thoughts is a dangerous precedent that could lead to state-sanctioned book burning.

Päivi Räsänen, a member of the Finnish Parliament, has been convicted by the nation’s supreme court for a religious pamphlet published in 2004.

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They also pointed out that, under the ruling, even previous online content—such as blog posts, forum comments, or social media posts—could serve as grounds for criminal proceedings.

The Supreme Court’s decision overturned earlier rulings that had favored Räsänen. Both the Helsinki District Court and the Court of Appeal had previously acquitted her, determining that her statements did not meet the legal threshold for hate speech or defamation.

Following the verdict, the Finnish Association for Freedom of Speech and Religion expressed concern over the potential implications of the decision. Their statement highlighted that the case raises serious questions regarding both freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

The organization warned that the ruling could set a precedent leading to censorship, particularly restricting the expression of Christian views, and could have a chilling effect on public discourse. They believe the decision extends criminal liability to expressions that were previously lawful, creating uncertainty about what may be considered a crime in the future, thereby undermining legal certainty and freedom of expression.

The case has also drawn criticism from Timo Soini, former leader of the right-wing Finns Party, who labeled the ruling as politically motivated, according to the Brussels Signal.