Europe has seen a twofold increase in cases of vandalism at Christian places of worship

According to a report by the human rights organization OIDAC Europe, July 2026 saw a sharp increase in the number of acts of intolerance and hate crimes against Christians in European countries, with the number of vandalism incidents doubling.

A total of 40 crimes targeting Christian communities were recorded in July . Germany (15 cases) and France (10 cases) had the highest number of reported incidents. A significant number of incidents were also reported in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The main trend was the desecration of religious sites—churches, monuments, and cemeteries—which led to many parishes being forced to restrict their operations.

Human rights activists emphasize that, in addition to property damage, incidents of direct aggression have become more frequent. Among the most high-profile incidents were an attempt by a teenager linked to ISIS to set fire to a church in Germany, the desecration of liturgical books, and attacks on worshippers. Specifically, in Ireland, a woman was stabbed while praying, and in Regensburg, an asylum seeker was beaten—the attackers were provoked by the victim’s cross necklace.

Representatives of OIDAC Europe express concern that law enforcement agencies often fail to recognize religious motivation as a key factor in such crimes. Experts insist on the need to take the religious context more carefully into account when investigating attacks on Christian communities.