Increase in anti-Christian hate crimes recorded in Europe in January

According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC), there was a significant increase in anti-Christian hate crimes in European countries in January of this year. Thirty-nine incidents were recorded, most of which targeted places of worship and religious symbols rather than individuals. This data points to the need for increased monitoring and effective countermeasures.

According to Christian Today, citing OIDAC, among the recorded incidents were 18 acts of vandalism, 10 arson, 5 cases of desecration and 4 thefts of religious symbols. In addition, there were three incidents of violence against Christians, including an attack on a street preacher in the Netherlands. The geographical distribution of incidents showed that 10 incidents occurred in Italy, 8 in Germany and 7 in France. Seven other countries had at least one similar incident. OIDAC highlighted the unusually high number of arson incidents, most of which occurred in Germany and Italy.

Outside the European Union, two incidents were reported in the UK and one in Ukraine. One of the British cases involved the police banning a planned “Walk with Jesus” procession in Whitechapel because of the risk of serious disorder caused by the hostile reaction of the predominantly Muslim population of the area. The European Parliament recently passed a resolution reaffirming its opposition to all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including the persecution of Christians. The resolution also recognized the failure to appoint an anti-Christianophobia coordinator when there is a fully functioning anti-Islamophobia coordinator. OIDAC welcomed the decision, stating that “Parliament not only recognizes the global scale of anti-Christian persecution, but also highlights the institutional asymmetry in the existing EU anti-discrimination architecture.”

Although the 39 reported incidents are described as an “increase,” it is possible that the actual number of anti-Christian hate crimes is much higher. A report published last year suggested that such crimes are often “downplayed, under-reported or politically ignored.” Previously published data from OIDAC indicated that there were more than 2,200 anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe in 2024, an average of more than 180 incidents per month. OIDAC Director Anya Tang-Hoffman emphasized that the latest figures “highlight the need for continuous monitoring, effective preventive measures and a proportionate law enforcement response.” She added that “ensuring the protection of places of worship and the free and safe exercise of religion remains a core responsibility of states under European human rights standards and an important component of social cohesion and pluralism.”

Recall, a new analytical report published on January 12, 2026, revealed a significant decline in the Christian population in Europe. Over the past five years, the number of believers on the continent has decreased by about 17 million people, indicating a steady decline against the background of the weakening role of the church and migration processes.