Why free speech matters

CNE participates in free speech summit

An international summit dedicated to protecting freedom of speech was held last week in Brussels, Belgium, at the European Parliament. The conference, entitled: VII Transatlantic Summit for Freedom of Expression, featured several politicians and activists from around the world discussing the need to protect free speech and become informed on the various threats that are suppressing it.

The conference was led and organised by the EU-based organisations, Political Network for Values (PNfV), as well as the political parties, European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Patriots for Europe (PfE). Chile’s president-elect, José Antonio Kast, was the keynote speaker of the event.

“Why are we here? We are here because we believe in freedom, in the family, and in respect for the human person, which remain the pillars of civilisation,” José Antonio Kast said at the Summit, which was published in a Political Network For Values article.

CNE editor Bart-Jan Spruyt also spoke at the event. His speech focused on several laws in the Netherlands that will effectively limit free speech.

As an example, he referred to the ban on conversion therapy. When pastors and parents are no longer allowed to give young people the counsel that is based on the Bible, and when such counsel is regarded as ‘hate speech’, an important freedom will be at stake.

Santiago Abascal, who is the head of Spain’s Vox political party and president of the EU-based political party, Patriots for Europe (PfE), also spoke at the conference. He reminded attendees that the concept of freedom of expression originates from Greek and Roman cultural institutions as well as within Christian values.

Although free speech has formed the backbone of Western culture, he says, freedom of speech is being silenced because more “spaces for freedom” are being created. It is also the case, he says, that if one “takes a stand in favour of the family, labels are applied as a way to silence that message.”

The conference concluded with a reading of a declaration that laid the groundwork for protecting free speech and its future. The Declaration was read by participants from at least 22 countries, who also attended the conference. “For our part, we commit to living in truth and choosing courage over silence,” they said for Political Network For Values.

After the event, a meeting was held with several international leaders and political parties on promoting traditional values within their positions of authority. Among those represented were Adina Portaru, Senior Counsel for Europe at ADF International, Gregor Puppinck, Director General of the European Centre for Law and Justice, and Catholic priest Benedict Kiely, according to the release.

Päivi Räsänen takes part in US judiciary hearing

Last week, on 4 February, Päivi Räsänen participated in a hearing organised by the US Judiciary Committee entitled: Europe’s Threat to American Free Speech and Innovation. The Committee’s Chairman, Jim Jordan from the Republican Party, invited Räsänen to speak about the legal case that has been ongoing for nearly seven years.

The three-hour session brought up themes of freedom of speech and religion, as well as comparing American and European systems when it comes to acknowledging fundamental rights.

Räsänen’s case is currently pending within Finland’s Supreme Court. Her case has involved a years-long trial for criticising the Evangelical Lutheran Church’s participation in a pride event while quoting a Bible verse in a Twitter post. The prosecutor had also taken issue with a pamphlet she had written in 2004 entitled: “Male and Female He Created Them”.

When she was tried, the District Court and Court of Appeal acquitted her of all charges, but the prosecutor decided to take the case further to Finland’s Supreme Court. There, Räsänen’s charges regarding “agitation against an ethnic group” are being reviewed and are currently awaiting a verdict.

“Ultimately, the prosecutor wants to make believing in and citing the Bible socially unacceptable. I find it grossly offensive that resources of the state are going after you,” said Republican Representative John Knott, which was quoted in her political party’s (Kristillisdemokraatit) press release on the hearing.

Räsänen had also taken part in the National Prayer Breakfast as well as the Prayer and Repentance meeting with the US Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. She also received recognition at the She Leads the Nations Conference of Women Leaders.

With freedom of speech under threat across Europe, we encourage you to speak out, combine forces and possible activities, as well as contact your national authorities on how vital this is for the future of the West. Without the freedom of speech and religion, our right to identify and practise as Christians would cease to exist!