ECLJ to File Amicus Brief with the Swedish Supreme Court on Behalf of Pastor Sentenced to Prison for Sermon on Homosexuality

October 17, 2005

(Strasbourg, France)-- Ake Green is an evangelical pastor in Sweden who was accused and convicted of hate speech for preaching a sermon regarding homosexuality as a sin. Pastor Green, in the Sunday message to his congregation of only a few hundred, closed the message speaking of the grace of God and redemption from sin. The sermon resulted in no specific acts of hate. Despite this, the Swedish lower court held that Pastor Green incited hate and violence against the homosexual community and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment under the new Swedish speech law.

The standard of the new Swedish law seems to be a subjective one in regards to what may be determined as hate speech as no objective requirement of causation was used in determining the verdict of guilt and one month imprisonment. On appeal, the verdict was overturned.

The Prosecutor's Office of Sweden has recently applied to the Supreme Court for review. The case is to be heard by Sweden's highest court in early November. ECLJ has been asked to file a brief to the court on behalf of Pastor Green. ECLJ legal counsel believes that the conviction under the law would set a dire precedent for Christians in Sweden and their right to believe Biblically stated truths.