Päivi Räsänen Appeals Supreme Court Ruling to European Court of Human Rights
Former Minister and Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen (Christian Democrats) has filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Finland’s Supreme Court ruling, which convicted her of incitement against a population group. The case centres on a 2004 pamphlet in which Räsänen discussed homosexuality from a Christian perspective.
Räsänen was fined €1,800 in March after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision, ruling that her statements in the pamphlet Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relationships Challenge the Christian Understanding of Humanity violated Finnish hate speech laws. The fine, based on her income, consisted of 20 day-fines. The Supreme Court’s decision was reached by a narrow 3–2 majority (Yle).
In her appeal to the ECHR, Räsänen argues that Finland’s conviction violates her rights to freedom of speech and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights. "I hope that in Strasbourg, it will be determined that the conviction issued in Finland violates the freedom of speech and religion protected by the European Convention on Human Rights, and that a condemnatory decision will be issued against Finland," she stated in a press release (Ilta-Sanomat). The appeal spans 610 pages.
The pamphlet, originally published in 2004, described homosexuality as a "psychosexual developmental disorder" and a "sexual deviation." Räsänen later shared the text on social media in 2019, which led to the legal proceedings. The Supreme Court ruled that her statements had insulted homosexuals as a group based on their sexual orientation (Ilta-Sanomat).
Räsänen has consistently denied that her remarks were intended to demean homosexuals. "This is not true. I have stated multiple times in my book that all people are equal in value," she said in the press release. She maintains that she has not committed any unlawful act.
The conviction has had practical consequences for Räsänen, including travel restrictions. In July, Ilta-Sanomat reported that she was denied an electronic travel authorization (ETA) for the United Kingdom due to her criminal record. While she may still be eligible for a visa, the ETA rejection suggests potential long-term travel limitations (Ilta-Sanomat).