MP convicted of hate speech competes in The Masked Singer Finland
Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen was featured in the country’s version of The Masked Singer last month. (Roni Rekomaa, Roni Rekomaa / via AFP Getty / YouTube / mtv Finland)
MP waiting for trial over anti-LGBT + comments was a surprise addition to the Finnish version Disguised singer.
Päivi Räsänen, Member of the Parliament for the seventh term and former Speaker of the Christian Democrats, In April, three charges were filed of incitement against a minority group Their harmful statements about the LGBT + community.
Räsänen participated Masked Singer Finland in September Jaguar, and his selection drew widespread criticism, including one show judge.
Judge Christoffer Strandberg wrote on Instagram: “The situation was personally very strange because it undeniably felt a little strange to thank and encourage someone who has been at war with the rights of people like me for decades.”
He said Räsänen has been “the most public of his statements about sexual minorities” and does not “apologize for any deeply offensive, misleading words”.
Although Strandberg did not take a position on “suspicion of a crime,” he said “it is high time to deal with hate speech properly”.
“I don’t believe in a culture of withdrawal, I believe in freedom of speech and I defend the right to disagree,” Strandberg said. “But because Finland today faces bullying, discrimination, intimidation, hunger and violence if you represent a sexual minority, I want to say that words, deeds and choices are very important.”
He added: “That’s why I want to say I don’t stand behind the whole episode with all my heart.”
Journalist and influencer Mona Bling also played Masked Singer Finland On the inclusion of Räsänen in the program.
“Why does the Finnish media constantly give space to people who trample on human rights?” he wrote on Twitter. “Didn’t anyone think that Päivi Räsänen, who has been accused of inciting a group of people, does not fit into the whole family’s program?”
Why does the Finnish media provide available people, what tramples on human rights? @Maikkaridoes anyone think that Päivi Räsänen, against whom a reason has been raised by inciting a group of people to receive, does not fit the whole programs? #maskedsingersuomi
– Mona Bling (@Mona_Bling) September 5, 2021
Producers Masked Singer Finland said ltalehti that performers related to the program and production were included at the “turn of the year”. They added that the format of the show “includes all sorts of well-known celebrities from different walks of life,” and the program “didn’t want to discriminate against anyone.”
Räsänen shared an article about his appearance Masked Singer Finland On Twitter. He said it was good that Strandberg brought “the revocation of culture and freedom of speech into the debate.”
A Finnish MP is accused of inciting a minority group
The Finnish public prosecutor left the matter three charges of incitement against a minority group Päivi Räsä v. For her statements about the gay community. Räsänen is a trained doctor and Member of Parliament who has previously served as Finland’s Minister of the Interior in 2011-2015.
The Finnish Minister of Justice believed that Räsänen’s comments “are likely to cause intolerance, contempt and hatred towards homosexuals”, press release from the General Secretariat.
According to the agency, his statement “violates the equality and dignity of homosexuals, so they transcend the boundaries of freedom of speech and religion.”
One accusation concerned Räsänen’s writings, in which he claimed that “the homosexual challenge challenges the Christian conception of man,” which were later published on the websites of the Luther Foundation and the Diocese of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission. The prosecutor’s office said Räsänen presented “derogatory opinions and information about homosexuals” and claimed that “homosexuality is a scientifically proven disorder of psychosexual development.”
“In addition, Räsänen has published on his Twitter and Instagram account and Facebook page an opinion that denigrates homosexuals, according to which homosexuality is a shame and a sin,” the agency said.
According to the chief prosecutor, Räsänen also made “derogatory statements about homosexuals” in the section of the Yle Puhe radio program “What did Jesus think about gays?”
“In it, Räsänen has said that if homosexuality is genetic, it is a genetic degeneration and a genetic gene that causes diseases,” the press release said. “Räsänen believes that homosexuals have not been created by God but heterosexuals either.”
Räsänen announced on its website that the “main hearing” of the charges brought against him by the Secretary-General will be held on 24 January.
He said the “process” of bringing charges against him began “more than two years ago” when he “sent a tweet asking a question to the leadership of my church who had signed to support Pride.” The “main content” of his message was “a screenshot of verses 24–27 of New Testament chapter 1”.
The other two charges concerned a “pamphlet I had written in 2004” that said “Man and woman, he created them,” and statements he made in a debate program in December 2019.
“In all allegations, I deny abuse,” he said. “My writings and statements that are being examined relate to the Bible’s teachings on marriage, the dwelling of man and woman, and the Apostle Paul’s teaching on homosexual activity as sin and shame.”
By Catholic news agency, Räsänen questioned the LGBT + Pride event sponsored by his church Twitter June 17, 2019, link a message on Instagram. His Instagram caption asked how the “doctrinal foundation” of his church would fit “into the idea that shame and sin are raised out of pride”.
Text and a picture were also put on him Facebook.
The news agency added that Räsänen is supported by ADF International and can be expected to serve a two-year prison sentence or a fine for tweeting. He may also be sentenced to prison if convicted of two other charges.