Have you ever posted a Bible verse on social media? In Finland, this could land you in jail. The Finnish criminal code holds that if a person is found to have expressed an “opinion” or “another message” deemed to have “threatened, defamed, or insulted” someone, that person could face imprisonment for up to two years. That’s serious jail time for nothing more than a perceived insult.
Unbelievably dystopian, this law is currently being used to bring criminal charges against long-time Finnish member of parliament, and former minister of the interior, Dr. Päivi Räsänen. Her alleged crime: She expressed her deeply held beliefs about marriage and sexuality in a 2019 Bible verse tweet, and during a debate in a radio show, in addition to writing a church pamphlet on the topic 17 years ago. This committed public servant, medical doctor, and grandmother now faces onerous legal proceedings and the looming threat of imprisonment.
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