The Helsinki Court of Appeals is to reopen the case against Christian MP Päivi Räsänen (see photo), just weeks after she was acquitted in the city’s District Court.
Then, the unanimous verdict of the judges was that she acted within the law in expressing her religious convictions about homosexuality. They declared she was using her freedom of expression and religion when she referred to her Biblical beliefs.
Räsänen responded to the appeal by saying that her aim was now to set a legal precedent in the higher court that would strengthen the rights of Finnish people to freedom of expression and religious freedom.
