Unbelievable.

• Dear All, Today, the Supreme Court of Finland issued a troubling mixed decision in the case of parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen.    After nearly seven years of legal proceedings, the Court found her GUILTY of “hate speech” for a church pamphlet she wrote over 20 years ago. The final decision came down by the narrowest possible margin — three votes to two.   Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola was convicted alongside Päivi for publishing the pamphlet for their church.  At the same time, the Supreme Court unanimously acquitted Päivi for her 2019 Bible verse tweet. And she was also previously acquitted for a 2019 radio debate.  While it is right and just that these two acquittals stand, the conviction for publishing a decades-old pamphlet marks a dark day for freedom of expression. The Court found Päivi and the Bishop guilty for “making available to the public a text that insults a group”. Their conviction is under the “War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity” section of Finland’s criminal code.   The Court has imposed criminal fines of several thousand Euros and ruled that the impugned statements from the pamphlet be “removed from public access and destroyed.” Strikingly, the Court acknowledged that the pamphlet’s content did not incite violence or hatred, yet still found Päivi and the Bishop guilty.  The ruling sends a deeply troubling message: that the peaceful expression of one’s opinions in the public square can result in a criminal conviction.    “I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the Court has failed to recognise my basic human right to freedom of expression. I stand by the teachings of my Christian faith, and will continue to defend my and every person’s right to share their convictions in the public square,” said Päivi.   This is not the end of the road. The fight to defend free speech in Europe and beyond continues, and this case underscores why it is more important than ever to stand firm against so-called “hate speech” laws.   These dangerous laws chill public debate and pose a grave threat to free and democratic societies. They must be removed from our statute books.   We are immensely proud of Päivi and Bishop Juhana for their courage, integrity, and perseverance. They have stood strong not just for themselves, but for the freedom of all people to speak openly without fear. We remain committed to defending that freedom, and stand beside Päivi as she considers appealing this decision to the European Court of Human Rights.  “I am taking legal advice on a possible appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. This is not about my free speech alone, but that of every person in Finland. A positive ruling would help to prevent other innocent people from experiencing the same ordeal for simply sharing their beliefs,” Päivi stated.     You have supported us throughout Päivi and the Bishop’s long and difficult journey, and we need you now more than ever. It is your generosity that enables us to provide free legal defence to people like Päivi and to continue challenging unjust laws that threaten free speech. Will you consider giving today to help us keep defending freedom — for Päivi, for the Bishop, and for future generations?  GIVE TODAY With gratitude for your ongoing support,   ADF UK

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