Violence against Christians is rising in Europe, study finds

Screenshot of the report. Photo: intoleranceagainstchristians

The Austrian non-governmental organization OIDAC (Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe) published a report highlighting a rise in violence against Christians.

The report states that from September 2022 to August 2023, the number of incidents, including acts of vandalism, attacks on churches, and threats to life, increased significantly – by 44%.

"In the West, we tend to think of violence against believers as primarily an issue in African and Asian countries. However, we also need to pay close attention to what is happening in Europe," said OIDAC Europe’s Executive Director Anja Hoffmann, commenting on acts of vandalism against European Christians.

According to the report, most of the attacks were committed on churches and cemeteries, but there has also been an increase in cases of aggression against individual Christians.

For example, France's Ministry of the Interior reported nearly 1,000 religion-based crimes against Christians, 84 of which involved personal attacks.

The report also notes that Christians who have converted from Islam are among the most likely to be victims of violence.

In April, an Italian court found individuals guilty of beating a Tunisian who had converted from Islam to Christianity.

Hoffmann emphasizes that the right to convert to another religion is a "crucial element of religious freedom." Therefore, she adds, European governments must do everything possible to protect these Christians, who "face a high risk of violence".

Acts of violence against individual Christians have also occurred in several European countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Poland, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Serbia. In some cases, attacks were organized against entire communities.

In June, a Christian church in Dijon, France, was attacked with tear gas during a service, causing panic among the congregation, and nine people were injured.

The report underscores that the current trend of violence against Christians is part of a broader issue of religious intolerance, raising serious concerns about the safety of Christian communities in Europe.

In this regard, OIDAC calls on the international community to take active steps to protect religious freedom and Christian heritage on the continent.

According to the report, Ukraine ranks 10th among countries with the highest number of documented hate crimes against Christians, just ahead of Russia.