Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen on Friday (July 24) announced that she has officially filed her appeal of a hate speech conviction with the European Court of Human Rights. “I have filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights challenging the judgment of the Finnish Supreme Court,” Räsänen said. The Finnish Supreme Court convicted Pohjola alongside Räsänen for publishing the 2004 pamphlet, issuing him a 20-day fine and fining his publishing house, the Finnish Lutheran Foundation, 5,000 euros ($5,400). Pohjola, who joined the appeal to the European court, warned against state control over church teachings. Price urged the European Court of Human Rights to accept the case to defend basic democratic principles.