Finnish parliamentarian Pivi Rsnen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola appeared before Finland's Supreme Court on Thursday facing hate speech charges under the nation's war crimes and crimes against humanity statutes for expressing Christian views on marriage and sexuality.</span

Federalist

European Conservative

Finnish parliamentarian Pivi Rsnen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola appeared before Finland's Supreme Court on Thursday facing hate speech charges under the nation's war crimes and crimes against humanity statutes for expressing Christian views on marriage and sexuality.

The charges stem from Rsnen's 2019 social media post featuring Romans 1:24-27 questioning her church's sponsorship of a Helsinki Pride event and a 2004 pamphlet titled 'Male and Female He Created Them' that Bishop Pohjola published.</span

Christian Today

Christian Post

The charges stem from Rsnen's 2019 social media post featuring Romans 1:24-27 questioning her church's sponsorship of a Helsinki Pride event and a 2004 pamphlet titled 'Male and Female He Created Them' that Bishop Pohjola published.

Both defendants were unanimously acquitted by the Helsinki District Court in 2022 and the Court of Appeal in 2023, with judges ruling their statements fell within protected free speech and religious freedom under Finnish and international law.</span

GB News

Both defendants were unanimously acquitted by the Helsinki District Court in 2022 and the Court of Appeal in 2023, with judges ruling their statements fell within protected free speech and religious freedom under Finnish and international law.

During the investigation, Rsnen underwent over 13 hours of police interrogation where officers asked her to explain biblical passages and theological concepts, with authorities offering her opportunities to recant her statements to avoid prosecution.</span

During the investigation, Rsnen underwent over 13 hours of police interrogation where officers asked her to explain biblical passages and theological concepts, with authorities offering her opportunities to recant her statements to avoid prosecution.

The prosecutor is seeking fines of 10,000 euros for Rsnen and censorship of both her social media post and the 2004 pamphlet from the internet, arguing that the defendants' intent is irrelevant to how their words were interpreted.</span

Billy Graham

The prosecutor is seeking fines of 10,000 euros for Rsnen and censorship of both her social media post and the 2004 pamphlet from the internet, arguing that the defendants' intent is irrelevant to how their words were interpreted.

Legal experts and religious freedom advocates view the case as a significant precedent that could impact freedom of expression across Europe, with the Supreme Court's final ruling expected in spring 2026 following Thursday's hearing.</span

ADF International

Evangelical Focus

Legal experts and religious freedom advocates view the case as a significant precedent that could impact freedom of expression across Europe, with the Supreme Court's final ruling expected in spring 2026 following Thursday's hearing.

Finnish MP, Bishop Face Supreme Court on Hate Speech Charges

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Finnish MP, Bishop Face Supreme Court on Hate Speech Charges

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