April witnessed a concerning surge in anti-Christian acts across Europe, with incidents ranging from violent disruptions during Easter services to attacks on religious sites and individuals. The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) has documented 38 hate crimes targeting Christian symbols and communities during this period.
France led with 10 reported cases, followed closely by Germany and Italy, each reporting seven incidents. OIDAC Europe highlighted a marked increase in violence and disturbances during Holy Week, particularly affecting Easter celebrations.
Serious incidents included attacks on churches in Germany and Italy and a violent intrusion into a French church during Easter. Additionally, assaults on Christians occurred in Ireland and Spain, raising concerns about the safety of worshippers in these regions.
Vandalism was rampant, with statues, crucifixes, and other religious artifacts defaced, especially in France and Italy. The report noted a decrease in arson cases compared to March, but intimidation and violence against Christian symbols escalated around Easter.
Physical violence was reported in various instances, such as an assault on a priest in Ireland during Mass, an axe attack in Spain linked to anti-Christian sentiment, and an attack on a Christian woman in Barcelona based on her faith.
Beyond these hate crimes, OIDAC Europe reported numerous thefts, break-ins, and acts of vandalism affecting churches and cemeteries across Europe, including repeated burglaries in Germany and Italy. Many were not classified as hate crimes due to lack of motive evidence but still indicate vulnerabilities in Christian communities.
Concerns also extended to the UK, where a separate Countryside Alliance study revealed nearly 4,000 crimes against churches and religious premises in 2025, with 271 incidents in Wales alone.
OIDAC Europe concluded that “anti-Christian hostility in Europe continued to affect churches, Christian individuals, cemeteries, and sacred spaces across a broad geographical range.” The organization believes many incidents remain undocumented.
The report also discussed legal and political developments in Europe related to religious freedom. This included the conviction of retired pastor Clive Johnston in Northern Ireland for holding an open-air church service and the acquittal of Rose Docherty in Scotland after a legal challenge under the buffer zone law.
In England, the Bread of Life Community Church in Colchester faced a Community Protection Notice over its amplified street preaching, marking an unusual use of public-order legislation against a whole church.
Additionally, a legal settlement involved ex-BBC journalist David Campanale, who faced religious discrimination by the Liberal Democrats over his deselection as a parliamentary candidate due to his Christian beliefs. The party later emphasized its inclusivity of all faiths.
OIDAC Europe welcomed a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe addressing religious discrimination, though disappointed that anti-Christian hate crime was not highlighted.
Despite challenges, OIDAC Europe noted positive signs for Christianity, citing record Easter baptisms in various countries, including over 22,000 in France this year.
In their May update, OIDAC Europe Executive Director Anja Tang also acknowledged victims of violence against Christians outside Europe, particularly those affected by Easter attacks in Nigeria, stating, “We remain committed to speaking out on their behalf.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
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