Hungarian Christian Democrats call on Finland to observe ‘freedom of religion’

Hungary’s junior ruling Christian Democrats has called on Finland to observe the principles of freedom of religion and conscience.

In a statement on Monday, the party’s deputy leader, Imre Vejkey, said the Christian Democrats took a stand for Finnish MP Paivi Rasanen, who faces possible imprisonment for tweeting a biblical quote.

According to press reports, the former interior minister is on trial after being accused of engaging in “hate speech” in connection with public comments she made on marriage and human sexuality.

The Christian Democrats said

the criminal procedure was “unacceptable”. “This is manifestly a liberal dictatorship,”

the statement said.

Faith expressed through a quote from the Bible should not be criminalised by Finland or any other EU member state, the statement said, adding:

“This is Christian persecution.”