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The Honorable Päivi Räsänen, M.D. The Reverend Dr. Juhana Pohjola Member of Parliament Bishop Parliament of Finland Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland FIN-00102 EDUSKUNTA FIN-00180 Helsinki Finland Finland To the Honorable Päivi Räsänen, M.D. and the Reverend Dr. Juhana Pohjola, We have been following your case since 2019 and on behalf of the millions of Americans who support freedom of speech and freedom of religion, we write to show our support for you in these trying times and to offer our prayers and encouragement. Once again you face unjust charges.
For almost half a decade, you have confronted targeted legal harassment for simply living out your Christian faith, the direct result of not just political persecution but also spiritual persecution. Now, despite twice being unanimously declared not guilty at the Helsinki District Court and the Helsinki Court of Appeals, the prosecutor has filed another appeal, potentially forcing a third trial at Finland’s Supreme Court. We are watching and we are praying for you. The world is watching, and the world is praying for you. As you once again prepare to stand trial for freedom of speech and freedom of religion, know that you do not stand alone.
Rather, each one of us stands alongside you, praying and encouraging you along the way. Sincerely, Paul Teller Frank Wolf Executive Director Former Member Advancing American Freedom U.S. Congress Ambassador Sam Brownback Dr. Gregory P. Seltz Co-Chair Executive Director International Religious Freedom Summit The Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty Eric Patterson Tony Perkins President President & Former Chair Religious Freedom Institute Family Research Council & USCIRF Ken Blackwell Maureen Blum Former U.S. Ambassador Executive Director United Nations Human Rights Commission Catholics Count
Nina Shea Douglas D. Punke Senior Scholar and Director Senior Pastor Center for Religious Freedom Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Hudson Institute Fort Wayne, IN Bunni Pounds Rabbi Yaakov Menken President Managing Director Christians Engaged Coalition for Jewish Values McKenna Wendt Arielle Del Turco Advocacy Manager Director of the Center for Religious Liberty International Christian Concern Family Research Council Charlie Gerow Robert F. Schwarzwalder, Jr., Ph.D. CEO Senior Lecturer, Honors College Quantum Communications Regent University Bethany Kozma Robert K. Fischer CEO Meeting Coordinator Keystone Policy Conservatives of Faith Kelly Monroe Kullberg C.
Preston Noell III General Secretary President American Association of Evangelicals Tradition, Family, Property, Inc David Kullberg Richard A. Vigurie Co-Founder Chairman Scandinavian American Gospel Alliance FedUpPac.org Jason Poblete, Esq Eunie Smith President President Global Liberty Alliance Eagle Forum of Alabama Melissa Ortiz Thomas McDonough Founder Executive Director Capability Consulting American Family Project E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D Dran Reese President President Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation Salt and Light Council
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis James L. Martin President Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association 60 Plus Association John Suarez Nancy Schulze Executive Director National Strategic Director Center for a Free Cuba Physicians for Reform