Can a decades-old church booklet, written by a Christian for her church, be treated as a crime? That is the question before Europe’s top human rights court.
With the legal support of ADF International, Päivi Räsänen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola are appealing their criminal convictions before the European Court of Human Rights, alongside allied Finnish lawyer Matti Sankamo.
On 26 March 2026, after nearly seven years of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court of Finland found Päivi guilty of “hate speech” for a church booklet she wrote 22 years ago. Bishop Pohjola and the Luther Foundation Finland were convicted alongside Päivi for publishing the booklet for their church. They were convicted under Finland’s 2011 “hate speech” law that falls under the War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity section of the country’s criminal code.
The Court ordered Päivi, the Bishop, and the Foundation to pay thousands of euros in fines, in addition to ordering that the statements deemed “hate speech” within the booklet be “removed from public access and destroyed.”
The booklet was written at the request of her church and was intended to equip the congregation to form a biblical worldview on a pressing national issue (the debate over the redefinition of marriage in Finland at the time). As expected of a church communication, it contains scripture and Christian teachings to help guide the congregation through issues of sexuality and marriage.
This case underscores why it is more important than ever to stand firm against so-called “hate speech” laws. These dangerous laws suppress public debate and pose a grave threat to free and democratic societies.
"The failure of the Finnish Supreme Court to uphold freedom of speech has set a dangerous precedent in my country and across Europe. I feel it is my duty to appeal this decision, to reinstate respect for the basic human right that all are free to peacefully express their views in the public square.
"I know I am not alone in facing unjust persecution under ‘hate speech’ laws that make sharing Christian beliefs a criminal offence. I make my appeal in the hope that the European Court of Human Rights will recognise that peacefully expressing one's beliefs is never a crime and ensure that this basic freedom is protected for all,” said Päivi.
"The Supreme Court's decision to convict me and the Lutheran Foundation for publishing a booklet for our church was extremely disappointing. As a Bishop, I have a responsibility to guide those under my pastoral care, and I am deeply concerned by the state's extensive efforts to censor our beliefs and decide what can and cannot be taught by religious leaders to members of their own group. It is our intention to join Päivi Räsänen in appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in defence of our free speech and religious freedom rights, and those of everyone in Finland.” — Bishop Pohjola
We are immensely proud of Päivi and Bishop Pohjola for their courage, integrity, and perseverance. They have stood strong not just for themselves, but for the freedom of all to speak openly without fear.
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