A Finnish member of parliament barred from entering the U.K. learned her travel ban had been lifted only 45 minutes before she was due on stage at a Northern Ireland event.
The Northern Ireland Assembly and Speaker Edwin Poots invited Päivi Räsänen to speak at an Aug. 17 event titled, “Faith, Freedom and the Future.”
The U.K. government, however, revoked Räsänen’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in July without providing a reason. Finland’s Supreme Court had convicted her on March 26 in a 3–2 ruling over her biblical views in a 2004 booklet on marriage and human sexuality, reversing two previous lower-court acquittals. Räsänen is appealing that conviction to the European Court of Human Rights.
Svend Ole Kvilesjø, co-founder and reporter for the Norwegian Christian newspaper Verdinytt.no, reported that British officials granted her a six-month entry permit on Friday evening (Aug. 21). The approval email arrived at 8:45 p.m. Finnish time – just 45 minutes before Räsänen would have addressed Bangor Worldwide’s final evening program.
“The decision came too late for her to attend,” Kvilesjø said. “Räsänen spoke to the Bangor audience live via video from her family’s summer cottage in Finland. During the event, she informed attendees that British authorities had just approved her entry.”
The Rev. Keith McIlwaine, the meeting host, asked the MP on video why she remained in Finland.
“About an hour ago, I got the answer,” Räsänen replied, according to Verdinytt.no. “I waited the entire time and wanted to come in person, but now time has run out. I welcome the positive response, and I can now travel to the U.K.”
Räsänen told Verdinytt that officials granted her “leave to enter outside of the rules” from Aug. 21 through Feb. 21, 2027.
The official notice offered no explanation for the earlier restriction.
Räsänen filed her appeal with the European Court of Human Rights on July 24, marking the latest chapter in a seven-year legal battle over freedom of speech and religion. Having served in parliament since 1995 and previously as interior minister, Räsänen received an 1,800-euro ($1,950) fine following her March conviction.
