The Member of the Finnish Parliament reacts to her acquittal on 30 March 2022. “It is alarming that in a country that ranked third in the Rule of Law Index, I have been criminally charged for voicing my deeply held beliefs that are based on classical Christianity”.

The Christian politician, after the ruling is made public: “Why was there so much international interest? Because people understand that if questioning freedom of expression can happen in reputable Finland why not in any other country”.

Evangelicals at the UN Human Rights Council also asked the Greek government to look for alternative religious education classes for non-Orthodox students.

Evangelicals speaking at the UN Human Rights Council also denounced anti-conversion laws in Nepal and India, while praising peacemaking efforts in Lebanon and Colombia.

Read and watch the speech that Päivi Räsänen (Member of the Finnish Parliament) gave on 19 February 2022 at the General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance. The Helsinki Court is expected to announce a sentence on 30 March.

Candidates from the radical left to the far-right compete against Emmanuel Macron on 10 April. The Evangelical Council proposes “values stemming from the Christian faith” that help “build society”.

Religious leaders also denounce the “disproportionate impact” that the draft law will have on “already marginalised minorities” and call for its removal.

His Muslim relatives accused the Christian evangelist of holding open-air meetings and debates.

Watch the speech of Finnish Christian politician Päivi Räsänen at the General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, 19 February 2022. "We are especially called to stand firm in those parts of the Scriptures that contradict the spirit of the time".

Doubts about the new (proposed) laws which cover talking therapy are being expressed from within LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) circles themselves.

Päivi Räsänen was the main speaker at the 2022 General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance: “Everyone should be free to express their deeply held beliefs about important issues without fear of censorship or criminal sanction”.

Government officials have begun proceedings to close another Protestant church. Sixteen churches have been closed in the past four years.

The second hearing focused more strongly on the interpretation of the law than the first hearing. Bible quotes and questions about faith were not heard this time.

The speakers at the evangelical gathering stressed that criticism and offense should not be equated to hate speech, and that freedom of expression should prevail in case of doubt.

The agreement between religious minorities urges to “combat violence, extremism and hatred”. They are now suffering a campaign of insults and threats.

Spanish evangelicals denounce that “fundamental freedoms are at risk”, due to “authoritarian” legislative initiatives and “demand for all the right to think differently and to freely express it”.

The Winter Olympics begin this week amid complaints about the Chinese regime's “massive abuses” of minorities and the strict surveillance of its citizens.

Evangelicals say the new contract “contains guarantees for freedom of religion” but also warn about its application, because “certain terms could be misinterpreted”.

Attacks on evangelical home churches by Hindu extremists have increased lately with the connivance of the police and the media.

Silence is the biggest noise in Cuba, but Adelys broke it when her husband, a pastor, was arrested during the ‘11-J’ protests in the city of Matanzas.

A summary of the main statements by the prosecution and the defense of MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola. On the ground reporting from Helsinki, Finland.

The prosecutor demands that Päivi Räsänen's writings on homosexuality are removed. Her lawyer underlines the politician’s belief in the dignity of all people and refers to the European Court of Human Rights.

Theologian Timo Eskola says courts of law should “not dictate what churches are allowed to teach about sin”. Other Lutheran academics have been less supportive of the Finnish parliamentarian.

Afghanistan is new at the top of the Open Doors WWL 2022. Discover the full list.

The Islamic country replaces North Korea at the top of the World Watch List after 20 years. One in seven Christians worldwide suffers persecution, says Open Doors.