Attacks on Freedom of Speech and Religion in Finland Should Worry the West, and Jews Especially

Sept. 13 2024

As a religious minority who have historically held unpopular beliefs, Jews have benefited from freedom of speech and religion, and can’t afford to take them for granted. In Britain, traditional protections on freedom of speech have been gradually eroded, and there have been instances of police showing up at people’s houses to investigate offensive social-media posts. Here in America, there is much talk of fighting online disinformation and concern about so-called “hate speech,” with little corresponding worry about preserving the First Amendment. The story of the Finnish parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen should thus serve as a cautionary tale of what can happen when the state uses intolerant means to enforce supposedly tolerant attitudes:

In 2021, Räsänen was charged on three counts of incitement against a minority group for stating long-held Christian beliefs about homosexuality.

These complaints resulted in eighteen months of police investigation and thirteen hours of interrogations. . . . I was sitting in the police station being interrogated, with the Bible on the table in front of me.

The questions were shamelessly about the Bible and its interpretation. I was asked, “What is the message of the book of Romans and its first chapter?” and “What do I mean by the words ‘sin’ and ‘shame’?” . . . The police asked if I would agree to delete my writings within two weeks. I said no and reasserted my belief in the Bible’s teachings, no matter the consequences. I will not apologize, I explained, for what the apostle Paul has stated.

The possible sentence for the crime of “ethnic agitation,” of which I have been accused, is up to two years imprisonment or a fine. In Finnish law, it falls within the “war crimes and crimes against humanity” section of the criminal code. The “hate speech” law had passed parliament unanimously without any real debate.

In the trial at the District Court, the prosecutor at first stated that the trial would not be an inquisition concerning the Bible. But then she . . . claimed that my views amounted to a doctrine that she summarized as “love the sinner, hate the sin.” This doctrine she regarded as insulting and defaming because, according to her, you cannot distinguish between the person’s identity and his or her actions.

Räsänen expects the case will go her country’s supreme court. Finland currently has a small but flourishing Jewish community—but one could imagine such draconian laws being used against Orthodox members of this vulnerable minority by an unsympathetic government.

Read more at Public Discourse

More about: Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Homosexuality

 

What’s Behind Hamas’s Threat to Stall the Release of Hostages, and How Israel Should Respond

Feb. 12 2025

Hamas declared yesterday that it won’t release more hostages “until further notice.” Given the timing and wording of the announcement—several days before the release was supposed to take place, and speaking of a delay rather than a halt—Ron Ben-Yishai concludes that it is a negotiating tactic, aimed at “creating a temporary crisis to gain leverage.” Therefore, writes Ben-Yishai, “Hamas may reverse its decision by Saturday.” He adds:

Israel cannot afford to concede to Hamas’s demands beyond what is already outlined in the agreement, as doing so would invite continuous extortion throughout the negotiation process, further delaying hostage releases.

The group sees the public outrage and growing calls for action following the release of hostages in severe medical condition as an opportunity to extract more concessions. These demands include not only a rapid start to negotiations on the next phase of the deal and an end to the war but also smaller, immediate benefits, particularly improved conditions for displaced Gazans.

Beyond these tactical objectives, Hamas has another goal—one that Israelis do not always recognize: inflicting psychological pain on the Israeli public. The group benefits from, and perhaps even draws strength from, the anguish and emotional distress in Israel, as well as the testimonies of freed hostages detailing the abuse they endured. Hamas wants these stories to be heard—not only to pressure the Israeli government but also because, in the eyes of its supporters, Israel’s suffering is its ultimate victory.

Read more at Ynet

More about: Gaza War 2023, Hamas, Israeli Security