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Far-Right Christians Put Europe’s Online Speech Laws to the Test

By Ken Chitwood
Finnish Christian Democratic Party MP and former Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen (C) attends Finland’s Supreme Court session in Helsinki, Finland on Oct. 30, 2025 of her hate speech case. Photo by MARKKU ULANDER/LEHTIKUVA/Sipa USA via Reuters.
Nov 5, 2025
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On Thursday, Oct. 30, Finnish politician Päivi Räsänen had her day in court. Again.

Räsänen, a former interior minister, and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola, are being adjudicated for alleged hate speech after Räsänen tweeted a Bible verse questioning her church’s participation in a Pride event and co-authored a booklet with Pohjola outlining her beliefs on marriage and sexuality. Prosecutors claimed both constituted hate speech. Though Räsänen was twice acquitted in lower courts in Helsinki, the case will now be decided by the Finnish Supreme Court.

Beyond Finland, the case is just one moving part in an evolving, broadening battle over free speech that is escalating across the Atlantic.

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Finnish Christian Democratic Party MP and former Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen (C) attends Finland’s Supreme Court session in Helsinki, Finland on Oct. 30, 2025 of her hate speech case. Photo by MARKKU ULANDER/LEHTIKUVA/Sipa USA via Reuters.