Rising Discrimination and Hate Crimes Against Christians in Europe

Christians in Europe are experiencing increasing hostility, with reports of discrimination, hate crimes, and violence against individuals and religious institutions. According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC), over 2,400 anti-Christian hate crimes were documented in 35 countries during 2023, marking a concerning rise in targeted incidents.
Growing Hostility Toward Christians
In France, two nuns were forced to leave their region due to escalating abuse, including physical attacks, spitting, and insults. Similarly, in the UK, a Christian convert from Islam survived a knife attack by his flatmate, who claimed he deserved to die for his faith. These are just two examples of the 232 personal attacks against Christians recorded in OIDAC’s latest report.
The report highlights that Christians in Europe also face workplace discrimination. In some cases, expressing faith-based opinions, even in private conversations or on personal social media—has led to bullying, job loss, or social backlash.
France, the UK, and Germany reported the highest numbers of anti-Christian incidents. France led with nearly 1,000 hate crimes, followed by the UK with over 700, and Germany with 277—more than double its previous year’s count. Vandalism of churches and religious property made up the majority of these incidents.
OIDAC urges European governments to address religious intolerance by improving religious literacy, ensuring fair media representation, and collecting detailed data on anti-Christian hate crimes. The organization has also called for the creation of an EU Coordinator to combat anti-Christian hatred, similar to positions already in place for opposing antisemitism and Islamophobia.
While Christians in Europe face rising discrimination, the report also notes high levels of hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities. European governments reported 9,000 antisemitic and 6,000 anti-Muslim incidents in 2023.
Experts stress the importance of fostering dialogue between religion and secular society. Churches are encouraged to address restrictions on religious freedom and actively participate in public discourse.
As Christians in Europe face increasing challenges, the OIDAC report serves as a reminder of the need to protect religious freedoms for all faiths and beliefs.