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Christian lawmaker says UK barred her from entering country after Finland ‘hate speech’ conviction
Finnish MP and former interior minister Päivi Räsänen says the UK has barred her from entering the country, revoking her electronic travel authorisation (ETA) after she was convicted of a "hate speech" offence in Finland. The case highlights ongoing controversy over the criminalisation of religious speech in Europe and raises questions about how foreign convictions for expressing religious beliefs are treated under UK entry rules.
Räsänen was originally charged over comments she made in 2004 regarding her Christian beliefs on sexuality, a case that has drawn support from religious freedom advocates including Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) chief executive Kristen Waggoner. She has appealed her Finnish conviction to the European Court of Human Rights, and has now spoken publicly, alongside Waggoner, about the UK's decision to deny her entry, framing it as part of a wider pattern of Western governments restricting speech tied to religious conviction.
In short
- Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen says UK revoked her travel authorisation.
- Move follows her Finland "hate speech" conviction over 2004 remarks.
- She is appealing the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those defending Räsänen argue that religious freedom is a fundamental right deserving protection, and that penalising someone for expressing traditional Christian beliefs about sexuality represents erosion of free speech protections. They contend that the UK's reliance on a foreign hate speech conviction sets a problematic precedent for governments to enforce each other's speech restrictions, particularly when the European Court of Human Rights is still reviewing whether the conviction properly balanced religious liberty against other rights.
The case against
Those supporting the UK's decision contend that nations rightfully reserve authority to determine entry based on their legal and social standards. They argue that hate speech convictions reflect determinations that certain speech causes harm to protected groups, and that religious conviction does not categorically exempt speech from such protections—with safeguarding vulnerable communities like LGBTQ+ people from harmful speech representing a legitimate exercise of border security.
Explained simply
Päivi Räsänen is a Finnish politician and former interior minister who was convicted of hate speech in her home country. The conviction stems from comments she made in 2004 about her Christian religious beliefs on sexuality, a case that has drawn support from international religious freedom advocates.
Several European countries have laws criminalising hate speech, including speech on religious matters. There is ongoing debate about how these laws should apply when people express sincere religious beliefs, with some arguing that such laws violate freedom of conscience whilst others say they are necessary to prevent harm.
The case has become a flashpoint in discussions about whether Western democracies are properly balancing religious freedom with other social protections. Religious freedom organisations have highlighted Räsänen's case as an example of what they view as excessive restrictions on religious speech in Europe.