Finnish Solons Favor Keeping Blasphemy Law

A survey conducted by the Finnish news agency Yle has found that a majority of Finnish members of parliament (MPs) do not want to change Finland's law on the sanctity of religion, which includes the possibility of a six-month prison sentence for blasphemy.

In a report, Yle said the survey also found that MPs of the government coalition Green Party and opposition Finns Party were united in favor of making changes to the law, with their views based on the same issue: Freedom of speech.

The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has repeatedly called on Finland to change the "vague and broadly worded" criminal provision on the sanctity of religion, arguing that it restricts freedom of expression. In a report published in April this year, the committee recommended that Finland considers making amendments to the current version of the law.

"The State party [Finland] should take necessary steps to decriminalize the breach of the sanctity of religion and protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as freedom of expression in accordance with articles 18 and 19 of the Covenant," the report stated.

Yle's survey asked all 200 Members of Parliament whether the Criminal Code should repeal the clause on "breach of the sanctity of religion" which includes the provision on blasphemy. A total of 105 MPs responded, with more than half of the respondents saying that they are not in favor of changing the law.

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