MLAs call for free speech campaigner Päivi Räsänen to be deplatformed

MLAs have called for the former Finnish MP, dragged to court for quoting the bible, to be barred from speaking in Stormont due to her biblical views.

Following reports that Päivi Räsänen was invited to talk at a ‘Faith in the Public Square’ event in Stormont, associated with the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention, Naomi Long, the Alliance Party leader, wrote that Räsänen would “bring the Assembly into disrepute” by being there, and called for her to be deplatformed.

Räsänen was convicted of “hate speech” in March for expressing biblical sexual ethics in a pamphlet she published for her church 22 years ago. The Court unanimously vindicated her for sharing similar views in a 2019 tweet where she quoted from the Bible. She hopes to appeal the hate speech conviction.

Deplatforming

Ms Long wrote of her “profound concern”, saying: “Allowing such views to be platformed in a Stormont event would utterly violate the role that the Assembly has in representing all of the people of Northern Ireland equally.”

MLA Nuala McAllister commented: “The Speaker must do whatever is in his power to ensure her invitation is rescinded”, saying Parliament Buildings “must never provide a megaphone for prejudice”.

A spokesperson on behalf of the Speaker, Edwin Poots, said that they were communicating with Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention about a welcome event, but denied any plans to host a ‘Faith in the Public Square’ event or of inviting Räsänen to speak.

Restricted travel

Räsänen said that she was no longer confident she would make it to the conference in Northern Ireland in August as her electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK was cancelled.

She explained: “The Supreme Court’s closely divided ruling has had unexpected consequences. In addition to restricting freedom of expression, it has also created restrictions and difficulties related to travel and participation in meetings and conferences.

“My greatest concern is that this decision has left many people with uncertainty, confusion, and fear about the consequences of exercising their freedom of speech and religion in a peaceful manner, and about where the line lies between lawful and prohibited speech.”

Labelled a hater

American author Rod Dreher stated: “Päivi Räsänen, an elected European lawmaker, cannot travel through Heathrow Airport on the way back home, on orders of His Majesty’s government. Why? Because she is a convicted hate-speech criminal, for quoting the Bible in public. That’s where we are.”

He warned: “The progressive bureaucratic order in European countries would rather attack faithful Christians as Enemies Of Society than deal with the actual problems they have.

“We can expect more of this. It’s a Finnish Lutheran lawmaker and grandmother today; it could easily be you tomorrow.”

Senior Counsel for ADF, Sean Nelson commented: “Once they label you a hater, they will never stop seeking to punish you.”