‘I am shocked’: Court delivers anti-Christian ruling in lawmaker’s ‘hate speech’ case

Finland’s Supreme Court has delivered a shocking anti-Christian ruling in a lawmaker’s fight for free speech.

She was fined for expressing her biblical belief.

The court said Paivi Rasanen, a medical doctor and member of parliament there since 1995, was guilty of incitement. She was ordered to pay a fine of about $2,000.

Lower courts repeatedly had acquitted Rasanen of all charges in the anti-Christian agenda adopted by prosecutors that had them appealing over and over again.

Finally, the nation’s highest court claimed its own authority over medical decisions and opinions, stating, “The Supreme Court considers that […] Rasanen must have understood that, for example, claiming that homosexuality is a disorder of psychosexual development is, in light of the prevailing medical understanding, an incorrect assertion.”

Europe is officially totalitarian.

The SUPREME COURT of Finland has CONVICTED Paivi Rasanen of a crime against humanity for a 20+ year old church pamphlet which opposed gay marriage.

At the time gay marriage was not even legal in Finland!

The state of Finland is evil. https://t.co/7SJpTKlted

— Dr. Calum Miller (@DrCalumMiller) March 26, 2026

Keep fighting the good fight, Paivi Rasanen @PaiviRasanen. God bless you. https://t.co/KOaBMu3sjd

— Vicki Lynn (@VickiLynn47) February 5, 2026

Rasanen said she was shocked by the opinion and is considering her option to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

Finnish government officials reacted with statements that their nation’s freedom of speech needs to be protected through legislative changes.

“The law on incitement against a group should be amended,” said Ville Tavio, the minister for Foreign Trade and Development.

Rasanen was acquitted on a second charge based on a picture of a quote from the Bible condemning gay relations, which she shared in a social media post.

According to the Christian Institute, the conviction was for “hate speech” simply for expressing her opinions of sexual ethics in a pamphlet published for her church years ago.

The decision was 3-2 in the court for an offense of “opinions that insult homosexuals as a group on the basis of their sexual orientation.”

Oddly, Finland lists that offense under a criminal code chapter called “war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

The judges on the high court also demanded that her views to censored to their satisfaction, with an order the pamphlet be “removed from public access and destroyed.”

Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola was also convicted for his involvement with the booklet.

The background is that Rasanen, in response to a decision by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland to sponsor an LGBT pride event, posted a tweet of her Bible open at Romans 1:24-27.

The court ruling said that failed meet the offense of incitement because she “justified her opinion by citing a biblical text.”

“I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the court has failed to recognize 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,” Rasanen said.

“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.”

Her legal representatives called the ruling “an outrageous example of state censorship.”

It took prosecutors three appeals through their own legal system before they could obtain a guilty verdict on their claims.

Rasanen earlier issued a warning should the court move to suppress religious thought.

“I think that it would have very, very dangerous consequences because I would even say that it would start the time of persecution of Christians in Finland and in European countries,” she said in a report at CBN.

She continued, “Because then it would mean that you are not anymore allowed to agree publicly with the Bible.”

At one point, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote to encourage her in her fight for religious freedom and her faith.

“Thank you for your unrelenting commitment to challenging the accusations levied against you, which has earned you the admiration of Christians throughout the world who are encountering increasing hostility. From thousands of miles away in the United States of America, I continue to stand with you. You have unwavering support as you continue to defend free speech and religious expression in Finland. … As you prepare for this newest appeal, please know that millions of Americans stand in solidarity with you,” he said.

Roy cited Matthew 5:10, which promises, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“While we remain optimistic about your case establishing a stronger legal precedent, it certainly does not excuse or reverse the grievous and unfounded nature of your initial prosecution. Over the past few years, you have faced endless legal harassment and spiritual attacks for merely upholding the Gospel’s teachings. These prosecutions are not only unjust but are direct assaults on sacred fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and even freedom of thought,” Roy wrote.

#kirkko on ilmoittanut olevansa #seta n #Pride2019 virallinen partneri. Miten kirkon oppiperusta, #raamattu sopii yhteen sen kanssa, että häpeä ja synti nostetaan ylpeyden aiheeksi? pic.twitter.com/cnjAQCrOc2

— Päivi Räsänen (@PaiviRasanen) June 17, 2019

The lower courts found that judges have no jurisdiction to “interpret” the Bible.