This article originally appeared on WND.com
Guest post by Bob Unruh
He has lost twice in lower courts, and is now moving to the highest judiciary in the country
Twice, a lawmaker was acquitted by a court of “hate speech” for posting a Bible verse online.
But Finland's Attorney General is insisting on appealing his recent loss to the country's Supreme Court.
A report from the ADF reveals that “The Finnish Prosecutor General will appeal the second unanimous court decision that acquitted Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Rässanen and Lutheran Bishop Johanna Pohola of ‘hate speech’ allegations for sharing their religious beliefs.”
The organization says that the prosecutor, who failed twice, is demanding “fines amounting to tens of thousands of euros, and insists on censoring Razanin and Pohjola's publications.”
This decision follows a ruling issued by the Helsinki Court of Appeal last November dismissing all claims against Rasanen and Pohjola, citing the evidence in the case, and affirming the ruling of the lower court for the same reasons.
Rasanen said, in a statement issued by the Alliance of Democratic Forces: “After my complete acquittal in two courts, I am not afraid to hold a hearing before the Supreme Court.” “While I fully recognize that every trial carries risks, an acquittal by the Supreme Court would set a stronger positive precedent for everyone’s right to freedom of expression and religion. If the Court decides to overturn the lower court’s acquittals, I am prepared to defend the freedom of expression and religion.” Expression and religion before the European Court of Human Rights, if necessary.
The ADF report explained that Rasanen, who was previously interior minister, was accused by extremists in that country's government of “hate speech” because she “shared her religious views on marriage and sexual morality in a 2019 tweet, during a 2019 radio show.” Discussion, and in the 2004 church handbook.
Pohjola was accused because he published the Räsänen pamphlet for his group.
Paul Coleman, of ADF International, warned: “The state’s insistence on continuing this prosecution despite this clear and unanimous ruling by the Helsinki District Court and Court of Appeal is worrying.”
“Draging people through court for years, subjecting them to hour-long police interrogations, and wasting taxpayer money policing people's deeply held beliefs has no place in a democratic society. As is often the case in 'hate speech' prosecutions, this has become the process of punishment.” “, he explained about the organization's client.
WND reported when an appeals court acquitted the Finnish lawmaker of those allegations.
That court ruled that it had “no reason, on the basis of the evidence it received at the main hearing, to evaluate the case in any way differently than the district court would.” “There is therefore no reason to change the final outcome of the district court’s ruling.”
“The essence of the prosecutor's examination of Rasanen was: 'Will she renounce her beliefs?'” Coleman said at the time. The answer was no, she would not deny the teachings of her faith.
“The interrogation bore every resemblance to a trial for ‘heresy’ in the Middle Ages; It was clear that Rasanen had “blasphemed” the traditional beliefs of the time.
The union explained that the district court had previously ruled against the public prosecutor’s attempt to convict her. The Court of Appeal ordered the prosecution to pay her legal fees.
Her crime was for expressing her Christian beliefs on marriage and sexual morality in a 2019 tweet, in addition to a 2019 live radio debate and a 2004 church publication.
#church It was mentioned that it was him #seta n #Pride2019 Official partner. What about church doctrine? #The Holy Bible Is it compatible with glorifying shame and sin as a matter of pride? pic.twitter.com/cnjAQCrOc2
– Paivi Rasanen (@PaiviRasanen) June 17, 2019
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