Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish parliamentarian and former Minister of the Interior, is enduring a prolonged legal battle that raises serious concerns about freedom of speech and religious expression.

Charged with "hate speech" for sharing her Christian beliefs on marriage and sexuality, Räsänen’s case further illustrates how intolerant LGBTIQA+ political activists are.

Despite two court rulings in her favour, Finnish authorities have relentlessly pursued her, highlighting an alarming disregard for her right to express deeply held religious convictions without fear of legal persecution.

Räsänen faced charges for three specific instances of expressing her beliefs.

In a 2004 pamphlet titled Male and Female He Created Them, written for her church, she outlined biblical teachings on marriage and sexuality, stating that “marriage is the union of one man and one woman.”

In 2019, she questioned her church’s sponsorship of an LGBTQ+ Pride event on Twitter, quoting Romans 1:24-27, which describes same-sex relationships as contrary to God’s design. Räsänen also faced scrutiny for her comments during a radio interview where she explained her views on the biblical understanding of sin and redemption.

In March 2022, the Helsinki District Court acquitted Räsänen of all charges, ruling unanimously that her statements did not meet the criteria for hate speech under Finnish law.

The court affirmed that expressing religious views, even if controversial or offensive to some, is protected by freedom of expression.

Despite this, Finland’s Prosecutor General appealed the acquittal, and after the Court of Appeal reaffirmed her innocence in 2023, the case has now been taken to the Finnish Supreme Court.

Such injustice is not confined to Finland. In Australia, Lyle Shelton faces indefinite legal action for criticising drag queen events aimed at children, and Kirralie Smith continues to endure lawsuits for raising concerns about biological males in women’s spaces.

These cases show a disturbing pattern of LGBTIQA+ political activists using the legal system to silence those who challenge radical social ideologies.

This is why Family First is raising a political movement to ensure parliamentarians who will fight for freedom of speech and religion are elected.

Australians cannot stand idly by while foundational freedoms are eroded.

Räsänen’s ordeal, along with the cases of Lyle Shelton and Kirralie Smith, highlights the urgent need for strong advocates who will defend the rights of individuals to express their beliefs without fear of persecution.

Read more about Päivi Räsänen’s case in Faith and Justice, the journal of her US-based lawyers, Alliance Defending Freedom.