The prosecutor of the Finnish Bible trial questions the legislator’s interpretation of the Bible, documentary programs
A recent documentary shows a prosecutor interrogating Finnish legislator Päivi Räsä about interpretations of the Bible in a free speech case called the “Bible trial” that dominated the debates freedom of speech and religion in Europe and abroad.
Räsänen, a devout Christian and member of the Christian Democratic Party, became a figure fighting for personal freedoms when he faced charges of “ethnic incitement” for a social media post criticizing the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church for participating in LGBTQ+ pride events in June. 2019
“I’m willing to go to jail if necessary to uphold this message,” he said after leaving the courtroom.
Moments earlier, he called his fight “a matter of salvation for people,” adding: “God loves every person. On the cross, Jesus atoned for all sins. This applies equally to homosexuals and straights.”
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Although acquitted of all charges in March, Finland’s state prosecutor appealed the not guilty verdict the following month, sparking outrage from Räsänen’s lawyer, who called the move an effort “against the deeply held beliefs of police people,” according to a Washington Times report. .
In a 2019 tweet, Räsänen questioned his congregation’s sponsorship of the LGBTQ Pride event and linked to an Instagram post with a picture of Romans 1:24-27.
The documentary produced by Yleisradio uses audio from the Helsinki District Court, where Räsänen began by asserting that God created men and women and intended them to be married.
“In that sense, homosexual behavior is contrary to God’s order of creation, as is any other sinful life,” he said, his Bible sitting near him in the courtroom.
Prosecutor Anu Mantila responded by asking Räsäse about the details of his beliefs and their biblical justification.
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Räsänen dug into Mantila’s questions and brought out their religious basis, as the prosecutor had previously criticized the use of religious grounds.
“I wonder about these questions from the prosecutor. Earlier you based your argument by stating that religious beliefs and the Bible are not discussed here. Nevertheless, you interrogate me about the teachings of the Bible,” Räsänen said.
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Mantila also questioned why Räsänen interprets the Bible literally in some cases, while not in others.
“Then let’s discuss the interpretation of the Bible in the Helsinki district court. Interesting,” Räsänen answered.
The presiding judge brushed off the prosecutor’s questions, saying the court would not “[go] To the interpretation of the Bible.”
“Which legal order is followed, the order of the Bible or Finnish law?” the prosecutor asked later.
Räsänen replied: “In this courtroom, surely Finnish law.”
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“[Beliefs] cannot be prevented with fines, prison walls or anything else,” Räsänen said outside the courtroom.
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“Such restrictions and this kind of intimidation, so that people start censoring themselves, they don’t dare to express their convictions. That’s why I want to win this trial… This is my job, my calling – to defend freedom of speech and religion,” he later added.
The next hearings will be held in August 2023 due to the Finnish prosecutor’s appeal of not guilty.
Räsänen said the trial’s lengthy appeals process was “unfortunate”.
“Last March, the Helsinki district court gave a unanimous, clear acquittal, but the prosecutors appealed this decision to the Court of Appeal. I find it unfortunate that this process is taking so long, because the mere fact that the trial is going on, even without a verdict, has the effect of limiting freedom of expression Accusations, interrogations and lawsuits make citizens afraid to express their beliefs. I encourage everyone to use freedom of speech and religion as the best way to prevent self-censorship that openly silences discourse,” he told Fox News Digital.
“However, I am confident in the future proceedings and I am still happy with the district court’s decision. In my opinion, a victory in the district court would have been enough, but the acquittals of the higher courts have a wider meaning. Continuing the case allows for a preliminary ruling on freedom of speech and religion even from the Supreme Court. This would serve as a legal guideline for future similar charges. I hope than anyone else I am ready to defend freedom of speech and religion at all necessary levels of the law, including at the European Court of Human Rights if necessary,” he added.
Fox News’ Kelsey Koberg and Caleb Parke contributed to this report.