Finland Supreme Court convicts MP for hate speech over homosexuality remark
Finland’s Supreme Court convicted Christian Democrat MP Päivi Räsänen of incitement to hatred for republishing a pamphlet that claimed homosexuality is a developmental disorder, ruling the claim incorrect; she was fined €1,800 after re-sharing the material on Facebook in 2019–2020. Lower courts had acquitted her. The ruling sparked debate inside her party and among other ministers about freedom of speech and potential legal changes, with calls for clearer legislation; Räsänen has indicated a possible appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The case was supported by US-based Alliance Defending Freedom.