Finnish MP: Homosexuality ‘Disorder’ Remarks Lead to Conviction

A Finnish member of parliament was found guilty of inciting hatred for comments she made about homosexuality, a ruling that has drawn criticism from far-right government ministers. Päivi Räsänen, of the Christian Democrats, was fined €1,800 by the country’s supreme court.

Räsänen’s Conviction

Räsänen made the claims that homosexuality was a “developmental disorder” in a pamphlet first published in 2004 and reproduced on the website of the Luther Foundation Finland and the Finnish Evangelical Mission Diocese in 2007. The supreme court, in a 3-2 vote, found her guilty of a crime when she republished the pamphlet on Facebook in 2019 and on her website the following year, ruling her claim was incorrect.

Support and Reactions

Räsänen was supported in her case by the US-based conservative legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, which has presented the case as an example of censorship in Europe. The group has increased its global spending on litigation following its success in overturning Roe v Wade in the US.

Räsänen described the outcome as “a shock” and stated she would consider appealing the ruling at the European court of human rights. Lower courts had previously acquitted her of all charges.

Finnish government ministers from Räsänen’s party and the nationalist Finns party immediately called for freedom of speech and legislative changes. Minister of justice, Leena Meri, called for a change in the law, stating the law was “not sufficiently precise and especially not predictable.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Riikka Purra, also from the Finns party, said on social media that “freedom of speech took another serious hit today” with the supreme court’s decision.

Legal Significance and Government Response

Prosecutor general Ari-Pekka Koivisto noted that this was the first such preliminary decision related to the crime of incitement. He added that the supreme court conducted a detailed assessment of fundamental rights.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, of the National Coalition party, declined to comment on the supreme court’s decision, stating that politicians should not comment on court rulings.