UK Blocks Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen’s Transit Visa After Hate Speech Conviction

The United Kingdom has revoked a travel visa for Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish member of Parliament, citing her recent hate speech conviction related to a church pamphlet on sexuality and marriage. Räsänen, who planned to transit through London on her way from the United States to Helsinki, was notified days before her flight that her previously approved visa had been canceled.

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The case highlights ongoing tensions between national immigration controls and concerns over free speech and religious expression in Europe. It also raises questions about how foreign convictions, particularly those involving speech and religious beliefs, may impact travel and participation in international events.

Räsänen’s conviction stems from a 2004 pamphlet, As Man and Woman He Created Them, which she co-authored with Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola. The pamphlet cited biblical passages and described homosexuality as a “deviation from the original, God-created sexuality.” The controversy resurfaced in 2019, when Räsänen tweeted a photo of the pamphlet while criticizing her church’s support for an LGBTQ+ Pride event. Finnish authorities charged her with hate speech, arguing that her statements were degrading to homosexuals.

Although lower Finnish courts acquitted Räsänen for the tweet, the Supreme Court ultimately convicted both her and Bishop Pohjola for the pamphlet itself by a narrow 3-2 majority. The court found that the language used in the pamphlet was illegal, stating that such views should be described as a “normal variation, not a deviation.” Both Räsänen and Pohjola are appealing the decision to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that their convictions violate their rights to freedom of speech and religion.

UK Visa Cancellation Process

According to UK government guidance, entry clearance or permission to enter the country must be refused if an applicant has committed a criminal offense that caused serious harm, including convictions obtained overseas. Räsänen told the Daily Signal that her conviction falls under a section of Finnish law dealing with war crimes and crimes against humanity, which the UK considers grounds for exclusion.

Initially, the UK approved her Electronic Travel Authorization, which would have allowed her to transit through London. However, this approval was later revoked, with authorities citing her conviction as the reason. The UK Home Office has not publicly commented on the specifics of Räsänen’s case, and it remains unclear whether similar cases involving other religious or political figures would result in the same outcome.

Räsänen is a member of the Finnish Parliament’s friendship group with the UK Parliament and had planned to speak at a conference in Northern Ireland about freedom of speech. She described the visa cancellation as an example of what she sees as growing "hostility" to Christianity in Western societies. Räsänen said, “Now, many people in Finland are afraid because they do not know what is legal and what is illegal to say.”

Details of the Hate Speech Case

The prosecution in Finland argued that Räsänen’s statements in the pamphlet were “degrading and dehumanizing” toward homosexuals and should not be protected under freedom of expression. The Supreme Court’s decision found that the language used in the pamphlet was illegal, emphasizing that such views should be described as a “normal variation, not a deviation.”

Räsänen has argued that her statements were rooted in traditional Christian teachings and that she had no intention to demean individuals. She noted that thousands of pastors in Finland have delivered sermons with similar language, and that the Finnish translation of the Roman Catholic Catechism contains comparable statements. She expressed concern that the ruling could have broader implications for religious speech in Finland, potentially affecting clergy and laypeople alike.

The LGBTQ group SETA welcomed the conviction and called for increased reporting and prosecution of hate speech against LGBTQ individuals. Räsänen, who has served in Parliament for 31 years, plans to run for reelection next year, marking her first campaign as a convicted criminal. She said the case has led to discussions about faith, including with individuals who initially disagreed with her views.

Reactions and Broader Context

Räsänen attributed her prosecution to what she described as a misunderstanding of Christian doctrine and a "post-Christian West." She emphasized that her statements were based on her religious beliefs and denied any intent to demean or harm anyone. She also recounted that her case has prompted conversations about faith and freedom of expression, both in Finland and internationally.

The UK government’s decision to bar entry based on a foreign hate speech conviction underscores the challenges faced by public figures with controversial views when traveling internationally. The Home Office has not addressed whether similar cases involving other religious figures would result in the same outcome, leaving open questions about the consistency and scope of the UK’s policy on foreign convictions and entry bans.

Räsänen’s case continues to draw attention from religious and free speech advocates, as well as LGBTQ rights groups, highlighting the ongoing debate over the boundaries of free expression, religious liberty, and protection from hate speech in Europe. As her appeal moves forward in the European Court of Human Rights, the outcome may have broader implications for similar cases across the continent.