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  "description": "A Finnish MP convicted of hate speech over a pamphlet about homosexuality has said she will appeal to Europe’s top human rights court.\n\nPäivi Räsänen, a parliamentarian for the Christian Democrats and a former interior minister, was found guilty by Finland’s Supreme Court in March in a closely split ruling. \n\nThe conviction relates to a pamphlet first published in 2004, in which Räsänen expressed her views on sexuality and described homosexuality as a “disorder of psychosexual development”. \n\nFi",
  "path": "/finnish-christian-democrat-convicted-of-hate-speech-over-pamphlet-about-homosexuality-to-appeal-decision/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-08T11:37:36.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.scenemag.co.uk",
  "textContent": "A Finnish MP convicted of hate speech over a pamphlet about homosexuality has said she will appeal to Europe’s top human rights court.\n\n**Päivi Räsänen** , a parliamentarian for the **Christian Democrats** and a former interior minister, was found guilty by Finland’s Supreme Court in March in a closely split ruling.\n\nThe conviction relates to a pamphlet first published in 2004, in which Räsänen expressed her views on sexuality and described homosexuality as a “disorder of psychosexual development”.\n\nFinland’s highest court ruled by a 3–2 majority that making the material publicly available amounted to a criminal offence of “incitement against a minority group”.\n\nRäsänen was fined about €1,800 following the decision.\n\nLower courts had previously acquitted her of all charges, but prosecutors pursued the case, leading to the Supreme Court judgment after several years of legal proceedings.\n\nThe court acquitted Räsänen on a separate allegation relating to a social media post quoting a Bible verse, but upheld the conviction connected to the pamphlet.\n\nAnnouncing her next move this week, Räsänen said she would take the case to the **European Court of Human Rights** in Strasbourg, arguing that the ruling infringed freedom of expression.\n\nIn a statement, she said: “You can freely oppose and criticise my writings and views, but labelling opinions as a crime seriously restricts freedom of speech.”\n\nThe case centres on a booklet titled _Male and Female He Created Them_ , which set out a traditional Christian view of marriage and criticised same-sex relationships.\n\nThe text, originally produced for a church audience, was later republished online and on social media.\n\nA Lutheran bishop who helped publish the pamphlet was also convicted.\n\nThe long-running case has attracted international attention, particularly from groups concerned about the balance between hate speech laws and freedom of expression.\n\nSupporters of the ruling say it reflects the need to protect minority groups from harmful rhetoric, while critics argue it risks criminalising religious or political views.\n\nRäsänen has said she believes the outcome of her appeal could have wider implications for free speech across Europe.\n\nThe European Court of Human Rights will now consider whether Finland’s decision is compatible with rights protections under the**European Convention on Human Rights**.",
  "title": "Finnish \"Christian Democrat\" convicted of hate speech over pamphlet about homosexuality to appeal decision",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-08T11:37:36.342Z"
}