What Has This Bent World Turned Into?

Christian politician facing third trial for Bible tweet submits defense to Finland's Supreme Court.

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, May 23, 2024

Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen, who served as Finland's interior minister from 2011 to 2015, has appealed to the Supreme Court of Finland overturn her multiple acquittals related to alleged "hate speech" stemming from a 2019 Bible verse tweet. | Alliance Defending Freedom International

Finnish Christian parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen submitted her defense to Finland's Supreme Court after being taken to trial a third time for tweeting a Bible verse half a decade ago in opposition to homosexuality.

Räsänen's defense argues she was within her international rights to express her opinion despite the state prosecutor's charging her with a hate crime over a 2019 tweet that questioned the Finnish Lutheran Church for celebrating LGBT "pride month."

"Vague or far-reaching laws against advocacy of hatred, or blasphemy, [offense] to religious feelings and similar [offenses] are not only arbitrary; they can also lead to the direct and structural marginalization of religious or belief communities," the defense submission states.