Minister of Justice Anna-Maija Henriksson says she considers the current law on the sanctity of religion to be necessary. She says the so-called blasphemy clause in Finnish criminal legislation does not need to be rescinded.
People gunning for the eradication of the old law include Green party chair Ville Niinistö, who said on Twitter that the law prevents criticism of religions and has no place in a modern society based on freedom of speech.
Minister Henriksson says that freedom of speech and protecting the sanctity of religion are not contradictory.
”I don’t feel that freedom of speech and protecting peoples’ religious sensibilities are conflicting ideals according to the constitution and human rights agreements,” she said.
Henriksson said that criticising a religious community, whether soundly or aggressively, does not fit the bill of ”disturbing the religious peace”.