OSCE: Hate crimes against Christians on the rise in Europe

International human rights organizations report an alarming increase in anti-Christian crimes in Europe. According to a new OSCE report, cases of discrimination and violence against Christians are becoming more widespread and are often underestimated by the authorities. This was reported by osvnews.com.

Anya Hoffmann, executive director of the Vienna-based Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians (OIDAC), explained that one of the key reasons for the problem is “religious illiteracy” among Western officials. According to her, it is precisely this lack of knowledge that leads to state structures responding to anti-religious incidents formally or without due seriousness.

“Anti-Christian rhetoric in the media and public sphere creates an atmosphere of fear. Many young people today are afraid to speak openly about their faith, fearing that it will harm their education or career,” — Hoffmann emphasized.

The 129-page OSCE report cites examples of crimes ranging from offensive graffiti and arson attacks on churches to assaults and murders. In January 2023, for example, an altar boy was killed and a priest was seriously injured during an attack in Algeciras, Spain. In Austria, a 76-year-old nun was beaten by a teenager, and in Poland, a young priest was attacked and insulted on religious grounds.

One of the most recent high-profile cases occurred in September 2024 in France: the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer burned down after being set on fire, and the bell tower collapsed.

According to the expert, the atmosphere in universities is particularly disturbing, where Christian or pro-life beliefs of students are often met with “shocking hostility.” Hoffmann added that local authorities often do not want to strengthen the protection of churches, and restrictions on freedom of speech prevent Christians from openly defending their views.

It should be noted that the head of the Desnyansky District Administration of Kyiv, Maxim Bakhmatov, shared his thoughts on the influence of Orthodoxy on the development of state policy. Bakhmatov claims that Catholicism or Protestantism are more conducive to the success of the state than Orthodoxy. The official claims that there is no successful country in the world where Orthodoxy occupies a dominant position.