UOC hierarch supports Finnish MP acquitted by court in LGBT case

Finland has acquitted an MP who expressed her beliefs in connection with the PRIDE2019 LGBT march. Photo: churchagainsthate.org

On April 22, 2024, a commentary by Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snigirev) was published on the new website of the international alliance "Church Against Xenophobia and Discrimination" regarding the legal proceedings against a member of the Finnish Parliament for quoting the Bible on Twitter.

"As a member of the 'Church Against Xenophobia and Discrimination' alliance, I want to support the position of Finnish parliament member Päivi Räsänen in the case where she was accused of so-called 'inciting hatred' based on her religious beliefs," the message says.

The bishop explained that the woman – a former Minister of the Interior of Finland – was charged with three criminal offenses for quoting the Bible and expressing her beliefs regarding the LGBT Pride2019 march.

"A four-year legal process led to her complete acquittal, which undoubtedly became a victory of freedom of speech over various restrictions on expressing one's position, based on vague and contradictory concepts of 'offending feelings' or 'hate speech'," noted Metropolitan Theodosiy.

According to him, the trials in Ukraine against hierarchs and believers of the UOC follow a similar scenario: "when they are tried for freedom of speech and expressing religious beliefs, using contrived and unlawful legal constructs, often unjustifiably expanding the content of criminal law norms."

However, as emphasized by the UOC hierarch, European practice has rejected attempts to try people for religious beliefs, recognizing  the expression of religious views and criticism of sin and vice as legitimate.

As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Theodosiy will involve foreign hierarchs in the case of persecuted journalists.

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