{"id":1409988,"date":"2022-03-30T12:15:03","date_gmt":"2022-03-30T16:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1409988"},"modified":"2022-03-30T12:15:09","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T16:15:09","slug":"in-global-freedom-of-speech-win-court-clears-finnish-official-of-hate-speech-for-sharing-faith-based-views-on-marriage-sexuality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-global-freedom-of-speech-win-court-clears-finnish-official-of-hate-speech-for-sharing-faith-based-views-on-marriage-sexuality\/","title":{"rendered":"In Global Freedom Of Speech Win, Court Clears Finnish Official Of \u2018Hate Speech\u2019 For Sharing Faith-Based Views On Marriage, Sexuality"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">40<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fin-global-freedom-of-speech-win-court-clears-finnish-official-of-hate-speech-for-sharing-faith-based-views-on-marriage-sexuality%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1409988&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2022\/03\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-30-at-11.35.04-AM.png?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;ixlib=react-9.3.0\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p>In a globally watched case United States senators had worried would result in a \u201csecular blasphemy law,\u201d a\u00a0Finnish court has ruled it should not be in the business of interpreting \u201cbiblical concepts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Helsinki District Court dismissed charges against Finnish Parliamentarian P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola, ordering the prosecution to pay more than 60,000 euros in legal costs, <a href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/press-release\/finnish-mp-wins-all-charges-major-free-speech-trial\">Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) announced in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>R\u00e4s\u00e4nen, a high profile female parliamentarian, had been charged with \u201chate speech\u201d over her faith-based views on marriage and sexuality, including a 2019 tweet that called homosexuality a \u201csin.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"fi\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/kirkko?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#kirkko<\/a> on ilmoittanut olevansa <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/seta?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#seta<\/a> n <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Pride2019?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Pride2019<\/a> virallinen partneri. Miten kirkon oppiperusta, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/raamattu?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#raamattu<\/a> sopii yhteen sen kanssa, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4pe\u00e4 ja synti nostetaan ylpeyden aiheeksi? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cnjAQCrOc2\">pic.twitter.com\/cnjAQCrOc2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen (@PaiviRasanen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PaiviRasanen\/status\/1140693636176384011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 17, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The bishop had published R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s 2004 pamphlet that shared her views on marriage and sexual ethics, the ADF press release said, and Pohjola had also faced charges for distributing that pamphlet 17 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>Following news of her victory, R\u00e4s\u00e4nen said in a statement that she felt as if a \u201cweight had been lifted\u201d off her shoulders.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am so grateful the court recognized the threat to free speech and ruled in our favour,\u201d she said in a statement provided by ADF. \u201cAlthough I am grateful for having had this chance to stand up for freedom of speech, I hope that this ruling will help prevent others from having to go through the same ordeal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During the trial, prosecution cross-examined both R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Pohjola on their Christian theology.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe prosecutor began the first day of the trial by arguing that the case was not about beliefs or the Bible,\u201d ADF said in a press release. \u201cShe then proceeded to quote Old Testament Bible verses and criticize the phrase \u2018love the sinner, hate the sin.\u2019 In their closing statement, the prosecution alleged that the use of the word \u2018sin\u2019 can be \u2018harmful\u2019 and called for heavy fines in the event of a guilty verdict.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Supported by ADF, R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s defense had argued that she was expressing Christian teaching and that though some might disagree with her, \u201cthere must be an overriding social reason for interfering with and restricting freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If R\u00e4s\u00e4nen were found guilty, this would significantly damage free speech in Finland, her defense argued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe welcome the Helsinki District Court\u2019s ruling,\u201d said Paul Coleman, executive director of ADF International. \u201cThis is an important decision, which upholds the fundamental right to freedom of speech in Finland. In a free society, everyone should be allowed to share their beliefs without fear of censorship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the foundation of every free and democratic society,\u201d he added. \u201cCriminalizing speech through so-called \u2018hate-speech\u2019 laws shuts down important public debates and poses a grave threat to our democracies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The trial had drawn thousands to protest in front of the courthouse, ADF said in a press release.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple Republican senators, including Marco Rubio of Florida and Josh Hawley of Missouri, had expressed their support for R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s right to express her faith.<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rubio.senate.gov\/public\/_cache\/files\/e4c3c5df-3aaf-4767-857a-74de2b8f9d5b\/C8AA68A336A5B4A8B246832018F9B026.01.24.22-smr-letter-to-irf-ambassador-re-religious-freedom-in-finland.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a January letter to Rashad Hussain<\/a>, U.S. Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom, the senators worried that \u201cthe use of Finnish hate speech law is tantamount to a secular blasphemy law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt could open the door for prosecution of other devout Christians, Muslims, Jews and adherents of other faiths for publicly stating their religious beliefs,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rubio.senate.gov\/public\/_cache\/files\/e4c3c5df-3aaf-4767-857a-74de2b8f9d5b\/C8AA68A336A5B4A8B246832018F9B026.01.24.22-smr-letter-to-irf-ambassador-re-religious-freedom-in-finland.pdf\">read the letter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Indiana Rep. Chip Roy celebrated news of R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s and Pohjola\u2019s victory in a statement Wednesday, calling the decision,\u00a0\u201ca victory for the God-given rights of free speech and religious expression both in Finland and across the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut, the fact that there was even a prosecution is unacceptable and a reminder that we must remain vigilant in defense of our faith, our values, and the very unalienable rights that form the foundation of Western Civilization,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest growing conservative media companies for breaking news, investigative reporting, sports, podcasts, in-depth analysis, books, and entertainment for a reason: because we believe in what we do. We believe in our country, in the value of truth and the freedom to speak it, and in the right to challenge tyranny wherever we see it. Believe the same? <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Become a member now and join our mission.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a globally watched case United States senators had worried would result in a \u201csecular blasphemy law,\u201d a\u00a0Finnish court has ruled it should not be in the business of interpreting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":496,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1409988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1409988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/496"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1409988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1409988\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1409988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1409988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1409988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}