Rod Dreher: Päivi Räsänen Massive Free Speech Win

[Kamaji]

Päivi Räsänen Massive Free Speech Win

By Rod Dreher
March 30, 2022

I am so used to bad news on the religious liberty and free speech front that it takes me a while to absorb it when good news breaks.  This is very, very good news:  the Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen scored a tremendous victory in her hate speech trial in Finland today.  Excerpts:

A Finnish court has upheld the right to free speech by dismissing all charges against Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola. In a unanimous ruling the court concluded that “it is not for the district court to interpret biblical concepts”. The prosecution was ordered to pay more than 60,000 EUR in legal costs and has seven days to appeal the ruling.

The former Minister of the Interior had been charged with “hate speech” for sharing her faith-based views on marriage and sexual ethics, in a 2019 tweet, a 2019 radio debate, and a 2004 pamphlet. The bishop faced charges for publishing Räsänen’s pamphlet for his congregation over 17 years ago. Their case has garnered global media attention this year, as human rights experts voiced concern over the threat this case posed to free speech in Finland.

“I am so grateful the court recognized the threat to free speech and ruled in our favour. I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after being acquitted. Although I am grateful for having had this chance to stand up for freedom of speech, I hope that this ruling will help prevent others from having to go through the same ordeal,” said Päivi Räsänen after her victory.

The high-profile trial received significant attention, particularly after the prosecution attacked core Christian teachings and cross-examined the bishop and Räsänen on their theology in court. The prosecutor began the first day of the trial by arguing that the case was not about beliefs or the Bible.

She then proceeded to quote Old Testament Bible verses and criticize the phrase “love the sinner, hate the sin”. In their closing statement, the prosecution alleged that the use of the word “sin” can be “harmful” and called for heavy fines in the event of a guilty verdict.

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What a thunderous vindication of free speech and religious liberty — and in a very progressive nation, at that! Glory to God! And tremendous thanks to Päivi, a tiny woman who is a giant of courage, standing firm in her faith even though a conviction could have sent her to jail. I met her last week in Brussels. She faced the possibility of prison, but in just the short moments I had with her, I could tell that she had the peace that passes all understanding:

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Source:  https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/paivi-rasanen-finland-free-speech-win/

[Kamaji]

The case was in Finland, not the U.S., but still, it does hopefully presage some limits to the madness, but only if those of us who believe in freedom of speech - particularly for unpopular speech - are willing to stand up, take the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and fight for those beliefs.