Päivi Räsänen

Räsänen has been characterized as a conservative. In 2004, she authored a small theological booklet concerning sexual related topics.[https://www.lhpk.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Male-and-female-He-created-them.pdf Male and Female He Created Them] by Päivi Räsänen, Lutheran Heritage Foundation, Macomb, Michigan In 2020, the head of a church body which distributed the booklet was investigated for incitement under 2011 changes to a minority protection law.[http://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/5104/Leader_of_evangelical_Lutheran_denomination_investigated_for_distribution_of_booklet_on_homosexuality Leader of evangelical Lutheran churches investigated for distribution of booklet on homosexuality], Evangelical Focus, 12 February 2020

On 12 October 2010, Räsänen was one of the participants on a live TV debate on Ajankohtainen kakkonen's Homoilta special, with the topic of same-sex marriage and LGBT rights. As a protest, nearly 40,000 members left the state Evangelical Lutheran Church through the website eroakirkosta.fi over the next several weeks. At the time, this was the largest of such protests.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kotimaa24.fi/uutiset/708-homoillan-jalkeen-kirkosta-eronnut-40-000|title=Homoillan jälkeen yli 40 000 eronnut kirkosta|first=Olli|last=Seppälä|date=2 November 2010|publisher=Kotimaa-yhtiöt|language=Finnish|accessdate=23 June 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106210928/http://www.kotimaa24.fi/uutiset/708-homoillan-jalkeen-kirkosta-eronnut-40-000|archivedate=6 November 2010}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.eroakirkosta.fi/media/none/tiedote_19_2010.html?year=2010|title=Yli 56 000 eronnut tänä vuonna – Homoillan jälkeen 30 000 eroamista|date=20 October 2010|publisher=Vakaumusten tasa-arvo|language=Finnish|accessdate=23 June 2011}} Räsänen was on the show representing her party and herself as a Christian individual along with five other proponents of heterosexual rather than homosexual marriage. The church membership resignations were attributed by the media as a protest against her and then-Minister of Culture and Sports Stefan Wallin.{{cite news|url=http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Wallin+R%C3%A4s%C3%A4nen+ei+voi+paeta+vastuutaan/1135260962763|title=Wallin: Räsänen ei voi paeta vastuutaan|date=17 October 2010|agency=Suomen Tietotoimisto|work=Helsingin Sanomat|publisher=Sanoma News|language=Finnish|accessdate=23 June 2011}} Räsänen thinks homosexual acts are a sin{{Cite web|url=http://www.iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/uutinen.asp?id=2265388|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020214055/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/uutinen.asp?id=2265388|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2010|title=Päivi Räsänen aamu-tv:ssä: "Homoseksuaalisuuden harjoittaminen on syntiä"|first=Kalle|last=Pirhonen|date=18 October 2010|work=Ilta-Sanomat|publisher=Sanoma News|language=Finnish|accessdate=23 June 2011}} and she herself does not consider her views "specifically extreme".{{Cite news|agency=Suomen Tietotoimisto|url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/R%C3%A4s%C3%A4nen+ei+pid%C3%A4+homokommenttejaan+erityisen+jyrkkin%C3%A4/1135260921271|title=Räsänen ei pidä homokommenttejaan erityisen jyrkkinä|date=15 October 2010|work=Helsingin Sanomat|publisher=Sanoma News|language=Finnish|accessdate=23 June 2011}}

When interviewed by Ylioppilaslehti on 29 October 2010, Räsänen said that she would favor Christians over Muslims when selecting asylum seekers to Finland due, in her opinion, to Muslims' "difficulties to adjust to the Finnish culture".{{Cite web|url=http://www.ylioppilaslehti.fi/2010/10/29/konservatiivien-kuningatar/|title=Konservatiivien kuningatar|first=Maria|last=Manner|date=29 October 2010|work=Ylioppilaslehti|publisher=Student Union of the University of Helsinki|language=Finnish|accessdate=23 June 2011}} Her comments were condemned as "incomprehensible and merciless" by then-Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors and then-Minister of Culture and Sports Stefan Wallin.{{Cite news|agency=Suomen Tietotoimisto|work=Helsingin Sanomat|publisher=Sanoma News|language=Finnish|title=Wallin ja Thors: Räsäsen pakolaispuheet käsittämättömiä|date=29 October 2010|url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Wallin+ja+Thors+R%C3%A4s%C3%A4sen+pakolaispuheet+k%C3%A4sitt%C3%A4m%C3%A4tt%C3%B6mi%C3%A4/1135261276773|accessdate=23 June 2011}} Räsänen responded to the criticism, saying her comments were misinterpreted, since she did not consider religion as the main criterion for asylum seekers' admissions, but instead she wanted to highlight the benefits of refugees' integration through religious connections.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/170107.html|agency=Suomen Tietotoimisto|work=Turun Sanomat|publisher=TS-Yhtymä|title=Räsänen: Tulkinta pakolaispuheista yksiviivainen|date=29 October 2010|language=Finnish|accessdate=23 June 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007194455/http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/170107.html|archivedate=7 October 2011}} In practice, as minister in charge of immigration affairs Räsänen has advocated for increasing the number of refugees taken in by Finland, especially from Syria.[http://yle.fi/uutiset/sisaministeri_rasanen_ottaisi_suomeen_300_kiintiopakolaista_lisaa_ensi_vuonna/7346537 Sisäministeri Räsänen ottaisi Suomeen 300 kiintiöpakolaista lisää ensi vuonna], Yle.fi, 9 July 2014, accessed 9 July 2014.

In September 2012, Räsänen appointed a religiously conservative applicant, considered less qualified by the media, among six candidates to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior Affairs, which created considerable debate, especially as she had previously condemned political appointments of government officials.{{Cite news|url=http://www.karjalainen.fi/fi/mielipiteet/mielipiteet/paakirjoitus/item/12052-nergin-nimitys-oli-tyylipuhtaasti-lapeensa-poliittinen|title=Nergin nimitys oli tyylipuhtaasti, läpeensä poliittinen|work=Karjalainen|publisher=Pohjois-Karjalan Kirjapaino|language=Finnish|date=8 September 2012|accessdate=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911020943/http://www.karjalainen.fi/fi/mielipiteet/mielipiteet/paakirjoitus/item/12052-nergin-nimitys-oli-tyylipuhtaasti-lapeensa-poliittinen|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=dead}}

During parliamentary proceedings for Finland's application to join NATO, Räsänen stated:[https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000008812857.html ”Maaperästämme tulee ensi-iskujen kohde”, sanoi Saramo Nato-keskustelussa, Orpo taas osoitti sanansa Ehrnroothille], Helsingin Sanomat, May 15, 2022

At great turning points in history, it has taken determination and courage to act, but also humility in the face of the unknown. It is known that the human equipment of the most effective is limited. "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." That is why even today we need the same protection that Mannerheim reminded in his daily devotional order: "May God protect Finland."

Räsänen opposes abortion. In a speech in July 2013 Räsänen contrasted abortion law to animal protection law saying that the latter gives better protection for animals than the former does to human fetuses:

"The law on animal protection gives better protection to an animal about to be put down than the law on abortion does to an unborn child. It is forbidden to cause the animal pain when slaughtering it, but no one dares to even discuss the painfulness of abortion. Abortion is defended on the grounds that the fetus is not a human person, even though it is a biological human individual from the moment of conception."({{in lang|fi}}: “Eläinsuojelulaki antaa paremman suojan lopetettavalle eläimelle kuin aborttilaki syntymättömälle lapselle. Eläimelle ei saa teurastettaessa tuottaa kipua, mutta abortin kivuliaisuudesta ei uskalleta edes keskustella. Aborttia puolustetaan sillä, että sikiö ei ole ihmispersoona, vaikka onkin hedelmöityksestä lähtien biologinen ihmisyksilö”) [https://web.archive.org/web/20140714122849/https://matskut.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/102/rasanenpuhe.pdf?sequence=6 Räsänen's speech], Matskut.helsinki.fi

About 6,500 abortion rights supporters formally renounced their state church membership in the first six days following the controversy. The average number leaving had been 70 persons a day previously.[http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/rasas-kohun-aikana-yli-6500-eronnut-kirkosta/636268/ Räsäs-kohun aikana yli 6500 eronnut kirkosta], Kaleva.fi, 17 July 2013[http://yle.fi/uutiset/rasanens_comments_cause_spike_in_church_resignations/6728183 Räsänen’s comments cause spike in church resignations], Yle.fi, 11 July 2013

In 2019, she was investigated for incitement after criticizing the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland's official participation in LGBT Pride celebration events.[http://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/4715/Finnish_Christian_MP_under_incitement_investigation_for_quoting_the_New_Testament Finnish Christian MP under incitement investigation for quoting the New Testament] by Samuli Siikavirta, Evangelical Focus, 2 September 2019 In April 2021, Finnish Prosecutor General

Raija Toiviainen announced that three separate charges of incitement against a minority group were being filed against her.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/ex-interior_minister_rasanen_charged_with_hate_speech/11907573|title=Ex-interior minister Räsänen charged with hate speech|date=29 April 2021|website=Yle.fi}} The charges fell under a chapter of Finnish law which criminalizes "war crimes and crimes against humanity" and each charge can result in a prison sentence up to two years.[https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/05/17/the-unstoppable-march-of-state-censorship/ The unstoppable march of state censorship], Spiked, 17 May 2021 The first part of her trial was held on 24 January 2022[https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/01/freedom-of-religion-and-speech-is-on-trial-in-finland/ Freedom of Religion and Speech Is on Trial in Finland] by Elyssa Koren, National Review, 24 January 2022 and the second part of her trial was held on 14 February.[https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/15454/trial-of-rasanen-and-pohjola-completed-decision-comes-at-the-end-of-march Trial of Räsänen and Pohjola completed: decision comes at the end of March] by

Matti Korhonen and Uusi Ti, Evangelical Focus, 15 February 2022 The trial attracted international media, and the statements and testimonies of both the first[https://cne.news/artikel/577-liveblog-stopped-trial-against-christian-mp-pavi-rasanen-will-resume-in-february Liveblog (stopped): Trial against Christian MP Pävi Räsänen will resume in February], Christian Network Europe, 24 January 2022 and second[https://cne.news/artikel/677-liveblog-closed-second-day-of-hearing-in-case-against-finnish-mp-paivi-rasanen Liveblog (closed): Second day of hearing in case against Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen], Christian Network Europe, 2 February 2022 parts of the trial and also the court's decision[https://cne.news/artikel/910-liveblog-closed-charges-are-dropped-in-case-against-finnish-mp-paivi-rasanen Liveblog (closed): Charges are dropped in case against Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen], Christian Network Europe, 30 March 2022 was live-blogged in English by Christian Network Europe. Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland bishop Juhana Pohjola was tried along with Räsänen; Pohjola was tried as the publisher of the 2004 booklet (see above). At the start of the proceedings, the prosecution asked for a day-fine of at least 120 days for Räsänen, 60 days for Pohjola, and a community fine of at least 10,000 euros for the Luther Foundation. An additional demand from the prosecution was for the Luther Foundation to remove the text of Räsänen's pamphlet from the internet and for the Finnish public broadcasting company Yle to remove certain passages from Ruben Stiller’s radio interview with panelists discussing the question of "What would Jesus think of homosexuals?".[https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/15180/paivi-rasanen-trial-prosecutor-demands-fines-defense-sees-factual-errors-in-the-prosecution Päivi Räsänen trial: Prosecutor demands fines, defense sees factual errors in the prosecution] by Uusi Tie and Matti Korhonen, Evangelical Focus Europe, 25 January 2022

Representatives of 45 Lutheran church bodies called on the Finnish government to not prosecute her.[https://ilc-online.org/2021/07/29/a-protest-and-call-for-free-religious-speech-in-finland/ A Protest and Call for Free Religious Speech in Finland], 29 June 2021, International Lutheran Council She was likewise supported by the European Evangelical Alliance and the Spanish Evangelical Alliance.[https://worldea.org/news/european-evangelical-alliance-sends-letter-to-finnish-government-expressing-dismay-over-paivi-rasanen-case/ European Evangelical Alliance Sends Letter to Finnish Government Expressing "Dismay" Over Päivi Räsänen Case], European Evangelical Alliance news, 17 May 2021 Five senators from the United States (Marco Rubio, James Lankford, Josh Hawley, Mike Braun and James Inhofe) warned the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom that the decision to prosecute them risked creating a "secular blasphemy law" to prosecute Christians, Muslims, and Jews.[https://www.christiantoday.com/article/us.senators.fear.finnish.mps.trial.could.pave.the.way.for.more.prosecutions.of.christians/138084.htm US senators fear Finnish MP's trial could pave the way for more prosecutions of Christians] by Julian Mann, Christian Today, 25 January 2022; text of letter at [https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e4c3c5df-3aaf-4767-857a-74de2b8f9d5b/C8AA68A336A5B4A8B246832018F9B026.01.24.22-smr-letter-to-irf-ambassador-re-religious-freedom-in-finland.pdf 01.24.22 Letter to IRF Ambassador] Ten academics from the United States signed an open letter to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom stating that the "prosecutions are straightforward acts of oppression".[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2021/05/28/a_letter_to_the_us_commission_on_international_religious_freedom__145839.html?fbclid=IwAR370iDXQMUFCRUyeGfIH12hDT0egvy3B7DI8teP_SFLUgYTVwLw4fobIsg A Letter to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom] by Peter Berkowitz, Keegan Callanan, Carlos Eire, Robert P. George, Mary Ann Glendon, Sergiu Klainerman, John B. Londregan, Jacqueline C. Rivers, David Rivkin, and Adrian Vermeule, RealClearPolitics, 28 May 2021

The District Court found her and Pohjola not guilty of all charges and ordered the prosecution to pay their legal costs{{Cite web |date=30 March 2022 |title=Finnish MP wins on all charges in major free speech trial • The European Times News |url=https://www.europeantimes.news/2022/03/finnish-mp-wins-on-all-charges-in-major-free-speech-trial/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |website=www.europeantimes.news |language=en-GB}} on 30 March 2022.[https://reporter.lcms.org/2022/finnish-lutherans-fully-acquitted/ Finnish Lutherans fully acquitted] by Kevin Armbrust, reporter.lcms.org, 30 March 2022 In response to the ruling, the prosecutor Anu Mantila stated that the District Court "interpreted the statements differently than the prosecution and that's why they viewed that the limits of freedom of speech weren't breached{{nbsp}}... It's my impression that this is because the elements that infringed on equality and the prohibition of discrimination weren't taken into consideration accordingly." Mantila stated that the verdict was incorrect and unjust and said there was "a high probability" she would appeal it.[https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/21268-finnish-lawmaker-acquitted-of-charges-over-derogatory-comments-on-homosexuals.html Finnish lawmaker acquitted of charges over derogatory comments on homosexuals] by Aleksi Teivainen, Helsinki Times 31 March 2022 Later the prosecutor's office publicly announced an intent to appeal,[https://adfinternational.org/prosecutor-to-continue-campaign-against-finnish-mp-after-major-free-speech-victory/ Prosecutor to continue "campaign" against Finnish MP after major free speech victory], adfinternational.org, April 6, 2022 which it did on 29 April 2022.[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/apr/29/finnish-prosecutor-appeals-bible-trial-hate-speech/ Finnish prosecutor revives 'Bible Trial' hate speech charges against Christian politician] by Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times April 29, 2022 Räsänen estimated that judicial proceedings "will take at least one year, I suppose, perhaps many more years".[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jun/27/paivi-rasanen-evangelical-finland-girds-years-lega/ Finland’s 'Bible Trial' to continue despite district court win for evangelical lawmaker] by Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times, June 27, 2022

Räsänen is married to a Lutheran pastor, has five children, and ten grandchildren.[https://adfinternational.org/paivi/ Finnish MP has all "hate speech" charges dismissed], ADF International, 30 March 2022 She lives in Riihimäki.{{Cite web |date=11 April 2009 |title=Päivi Räsänen |url=http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/P%C3%A4ivi+R%C3%A4s%C3%A4nen/HS20090411SI1YO02thz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023114856/http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/P%C3%A4ivi+R%C3%A4s%C3%A4nen/HS20090411SI1YO02thz |archive-date=23 October 2012 |accessdate=23 June 2011 |work=Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Sanoma News |language=Finnish}} Räsänen is a physician and holds a Licentiate of Medicine.{{Cite web|title=Räsäsen viimeinen taisto|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/rasasen_viimeinen_taisto/7892744|access-date=29 July 2021|website=Yle.fi|date=27 March 2015|language=fi}}

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• [http://www.paivirasanen.fi/en/ Home page]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070905064448/http://www.eduskunta.fi/triphome/bin/hex5000.sh?hnro=499&kieli=su Parliament of Finland: Päivi Räsänen] {{in lang|fi}}

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{{succession box | before = Anne Holmlund

| title = Minister of the Interior of Finland | years=22 June 2011 —25 May 2015 | after = Petteri Orpo}}

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{{succession box | before = Bjarne Kallis

| title = Chairperson the Finnish Christian Democrats | years=2 October 2004 —28 August 2015 | after = Sari Essayah}}

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{{Eduskunta members 2023–2027}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rasanen, Paivi}}

Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Sonkajärvi

Category:Finnish Lutherans

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