OIDAC Europe reported an increase in attacks on Christian places of worship in Europe

Europe has seen a rise in hate crimes against Christians: according to the human rights organization OIDAC Europe, 37 such incidents were recorded in May, including 13 cases of arson targeting Christian churches and religious buildings.

According to the report, the highest number of incidents was recorded in Germany, Italy, and France. In particular, in Genoa, vandals defaced the Basilica of San Siro with graffiti calling for “churches to be burned.” In the United Kingdom and Ireland, law enforcement agencies launched investigations following a series of fires at church buildings.

The report also highlights cases of attacks not only on religious sites but also on worshippers. In Hanau, Germany, according to the source, unknown assailants fired an air gun at the Church of the Holy Spirit during Mass, while about 200 parishioners were inside. In Poland, a Ukrainian citizen allegedly attacked a nun and ripped the cross she wore around her neck from her body, while in Austria, left-wing extremists severely injured two Catholic students.

It is also reported that a Christian café in Leipzig has closed its doors; according to the publication, it faced constant pressure and 26 attacks by radical left-wing groups. Representatives of OIDAC Europe view such incidents as part of a broader trend toward the displacement of Christian values from the public sphere.

Human rights activists also draw attention to the situation in Greece: according to the data cited, over the past ten years, 96% of attacks on religious sites in the country targeted Orthodox churches, totaling more than 4,400 incidents. The report’s authors criticize European authorities for not paying enough attention to the problem and call for recognition of the scale of persecution against Christians in Europe.