Hate crimes against Christians on the rise in Europe, report says

Interior of Saint Martin's Church (France) damaged by fire. Photo: fsspx

A surge in anti-Christian hate crimes was recorded in Europe in January 2026. Over the course of the month, 39 incidents were registered targeting churches, religious symbols, and Christians. This is stated in a report by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC).

According to the report’s data, the recorded incidents comprise 18 acts of vandalism, 10 arson attacks, five desecrations, and four thefts of religious symbols. Three cases of violence against Christians were also documented, including an attack on a street preacher in the Netherlands.

The largest number of incidents was recorded in Italy – 10. Germany followed with 8, and France with 7. Separate cases were also registered in Spain, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Serbia. Outside the EU, incidents occurred in the United Kingdom and Ukraine.

The authors of the report draw particular attention to the unusually high number of church arson attacks – ten such cases were recorded in a single month. Most of them occurred in Germany and Italy. In a number of episodes, perpetrators deliberately burned sacred items, including liturgical books, Nativity scenes, and altars.

According to OIDAC, more than 2,200 anti-Christian hate crimes were registered in Europe in 2024. Experts note that the actual number is higher, since many incidents receive insufficient coverage or do not enter official statistics at all.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the European Parliament condemned Turkey over the deportation of Christians from the country.

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