Finland - 2012
Is there a legal definition of hate speech?
- Code:
- RED22
- Key Area:
- Anti-racist Crime Legislation & Implementation
- Strand(s):
- Racism
| Short Answer |
Yes, there is a legal definition of hate-speech. |
| Qualitative Info |
The Criminal Code defines incitement to hatred as spreading of statements or other information among the public where a certain group is defamed or insulted on the ground of race, colour of skin, origin, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation and disability or comparable reason. The Criminal Code also contains provisions on defamation (Section 24:9) and aggravated defamation (24:10). Defamation is defined as spreading of false information or a false insinuation of another person so that the act is conducive to causing damage or suffering to that person, or subjecting that person to contempt. The act is aggravated, if the offence is committed by using the mass media or otherwise by making the information or insinuation available to many persons. |
| Groups affected/interested | Migrants, Refugees, Roma & Travelers, Muslims, Ethnic minorities, Religious minorities, Linguistic minorities, Majority, Asylum seekers, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Persons with disability, Africans/black people, National minorities |
| Type (R/D) | Extremism - organised Racist Violence, Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Anti-semitism, Islamophobia, Afrophobia, Arabophobia, Anti-roma/zinghanophobia, Religious intolerance, Inter-ethnic, Intra-ethnic, Nationalism, Homophobia, On grounds of disability, On grounds of other belief, Anti-roma/ romaphobia, Xenophobia |
| Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas | Anti-racism |
| External Url | http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1889/en18890039.pdf |
| Situation(s) |
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| Library |
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