Report raises concerns about anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe

A Christian watchdog has reported an increase in anti-Christian hate crimes against churches and other Christian sites across Europe, with arson, vandalism and desecration among the many incidents recorded during February.

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) said it documented 34 anti-Christian hate crimes through the month, including 11 arson attacks.

The total was higher than in January, which had already marked an unusually high variety of incidents.

The organisation said February’s cases included 17 incidents of vandalism, 11 fire-related events, three desecrations, two incidents involving the theft of holy objects, and one case of violent assault on Christians participating in a public event.

France, Italy and Germany recorded the best numbers of incidents, with seven cases each in France and Italy, and 6 in Germany.

Additional incidents were reported within the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Poland and Greece, while further cases were also logged within the UK and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The group said one in every of the clearest trends in February was the persistence of arson attacks, including an incident in Loiret, France, where the altar of a parish church was deliberately set alight.

In the Dutch town of Ede, three churches were damaged in separate fires within the space of 5 days, prompting heightened concern over repeated targeting of Christian sites.

In Italy, incidents included an attempted arson on the historic Church of San Rocco in Felizzano, and an arrest at St Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican after a person allegedly tried to enter carrying flammable materials and ignition devices during a papal Mass. 

A priest in southern Stockholm, Sweden, reportedly prevented an try to set fire to a Catholic church.

In the UK, OIDAC Europe recorded two suspected arson attacks, including severe damage to a historic former church constructing in Camelon, Scotland, and to the previous King’s Hall Methodist Church in Southall.

A second pattern was the repeated targeting of on objects with symbolic or liturgical value, like a Virgin Mary statue at Bois-le-Roi cemetery and vandalism of Montpellier Cathedral during a carnival celebration in France.

In Germany, grave crosses were burned inside a cemetery prayer hall in Amtzell and serious vandalism occurred inside a Catholic church in Steinenbronn.

St Alphonsus RC Church in Glasgow, UK, was vandalised, while in Spain, incidents included graffiti on the historic Santa Susana Church in Santiago.

A 3rd pattern was the reoccurrence of attacks against the identical churches or local Christian sites in quick succession, raising fears concerning the cumulative effect on congregations and neighbourhoods.

OIDAC Europe documented repeated damage to a church in Hastings, UK, and vandalism of St Olof’s Church in Falköping, Sweden.

In Spain, there was renewed damage to the doorway and windows of the Immaculate Conception convent in Navarre.

In Poland, threatening graffiti and satanic symbols were daubed on the wall of a Roman Catholic church in Poznań, including a warning that the church can be burned.

In the case of violent assault, two people were taken to hospital after being attacked at a Christian pro-life event in Koblenz, Germany.

The violence didn’t stop with the top of February.

OIDAC Europe said attacks continued through the opening weeks of March, with more arson reported in Austria, Poland, Ireland and in Switzerland, where a Bible was set alight on an altar.

Elsewhere in March, a cross was reportedly faraway from the front of a Methodist church in Germany and thrown right into a rubbish bin.

In Italy, a paper bomb hit a church in Modesto, while in Tuscania gunshots were directed at each a church and a non secular image.

Alongside the recorded hate crimes, OIDAC Europe said it documented an extra 46 incidents involving theft, property damage or break-ins affecting churches, though these weren’t included within the anti-Christian hate crime count because a particular bias within the motive couldn’t be clearly established.

OIDAC Europe said the cases display continuing risks for Christian places of worship and communities, and underline the necessity for cover of non secular sites.

“While the figures presented reflect only the incidents documented by OIDAC Europe and subsequently cannot capture the complete scope of anti-Christian hostility, the patterns observed highlight ongoing security concerns affecting Christian places of worship across Europe,” said OIDAC.

“Ensuring the protection of non secular sites and the free and secure exercise of faith stays a crucial responsibility for public authorities and native communities alike.”