The prosecutor accuses Mäenpää of using slanderous and abusive language when speaking of African and Middle Eastern refugees and immigrants at YLE’s parliament election debate two years ago.
The prosecution maintains that in his remarks Mäenpää, a candidate for public office, vastly generalised the characteristics of people belonging to certain ethnic groups. Mäenpäää referred to members of specific ethnic groups as criminals, welfare system abusers and generally less worthy people.
The prosecutor asserts that Mäenpää believes it to be acceptable for people to take justice into their own hands when immigrants commit crimes.
Mäenpää: ”Regular Election Debate”
Mäenpää, who denies the charges, chalks his election debate remarks up to normal political banter.
”This trial is absurd and preposterous. I voiced my personal opinions during the election debate, and I was not inciting hate agianst any specific group. You can’t be judged on your opinions,” told Mäenpää to YLE ahead of the hearing on Tuesday.
In 2007 Mäenpää stood for election on the ticket of the far-right Finnish People's Blue-Whites.
Eight years ago the Turku District Court found him guilty of inciting racial hatred because of a web column he had authored. At the time the Turku District Court handed down a fine as punishment.
“The fine was converted into jail time. I served 41 days at the prison of south-western Finland,” said Mäenpää.
The Helsinki District Court will hand down a ruling in the case in two weeks.
