Finland hate crime ruling echoes in Canada Bill C-9 debate

Canada (MNN) — A hate speech case in Finland is drawing international attention and reigniting debate over Canada’s proposed Bill C-9.

On March 26, Finland’s Supreme Court convicted former Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen (header photo) and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of a hate crime. The case stands out not only for the conviction itself, but for how it was prosecuted. Authorities used the “war crimes and crimes against humanity” section of Finland’s criminal code — a category typically reserved for far more severe offenses.

The charges stem from a pamphlet published more than 20 years ago, in which the two outlined a biblical view of family and expressed concerns about gender-related issues. Päivi Räsänen has also previously faced accusations of hate speech for citing Scripture, including the book of Romans, though she was acquitted of those charges in earlier court rulings.

Floyd Brobbel of Voice of the Martyrs Canada explains the legal basis behind the ruling: “It’s under a hate speech law that has a very loose or vague definition of hate, that these two were convicted.”

From Finland to Canada’s Bill C-9

The decision is now echoing beyond Finland, fueling renewed discussion in Canada over Bill C-9, also known as the Combatting Hate Act. For more background on the bill and its potential impact on religious groups, see our previous coverage (here and here).

(Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

Brobbel says the concern lies in how “hate” is defined and applied: “The concern remains that the loosening of the definition of hate could, in fact, in the long run, do exactly what they say the bill will not do.”

At a deeper level, the situation raises questions about how religious beliefs are interpreted in modern legal systems — whether they are assessed on evidence or increasingly through the lens of perceived offense. Some observers see parallels between the developments in Finland and what could potentially unfold in Canada.

Bill C-9 has already passed the House of Commons and is now before the Senate. If it advances, it will return to Parliament for final reading.

As lawmakers consider the bill, Brobbel is calling for prayer: “Pray that they would have the wisdom to carefully consider the implications of this bill and tighten up some of the descriptions that need to be tightened up.”

Visit Voice of the Martyrs Canada to learn more about how they serve the persecuted Church.

Header photo: Portrait of Päivi Räsänen (photo courtesy of FinnishGovernment via Wikimedia Commons)