The District Court of Varsinais-Suomi has sentenced two employees from a local parish to fines for violating their official duties. The court found that the parish priest and administrative secretary treated Romani clients differently compared to other customers by demanding cash payments in advance for services related to funeral arrangements. While the administrative secretary enforced this demand, it was established that other clients were allowed to pay on credit, leading to accusations of discrimination against the Romani community.

The practice was said to be a common payment procedure specifically targeting Romani clients, which raised significant concerns regarding equality and fairness in the treatment of customers by the church. The parish priest admitted to implementing this practice, but claimed he later requested sending invoices to clients in accordance with the parish's normal procedures. This statement came after the Equal Rights Ombudsman provided input, highlighting that the requirement for cash payments from Romani customers constituted a violation of their rights.

This case underscores ongoing issues of discrimination and unequal treatment faced by minority groups within public services in Finland. It calls attention to the need for better training and awareness among public service employees to ensure equitable treatment for all individuals, irrespective of their ethnicity or background, and may potentially prompt further scrutiny of similar practices within other institutions.