"Europe Against a Wave of Anti-Christianity"; Increased Attacks on Churches and Worshippers During Easter Week
A new report by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) reports a worrying increase in violence and hatred against Christians in European countries, a wave that intensified during Holy Week and Easter celebrations and included attacks on churches, arson, desecration of religious symbols and physical violence against priests and worshippers. What were once considered isolated incidents have now become a consistent pattern of anti-Christian hostility across Europe, observers say.
According to an April 2026 analysis prepared and published by OIDAC Europe, at least 38 hate crimes against Christians have been recorded across Europe, targeting places of worship, cemeteries, religious symbols and even Christian individuals.
The report said France had the highest number of attacks, with 10 cases, followed by Germany and Italy, each with seven. Other cases were reported in Spain, Ireland, Poland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Ukraine.
According to OIDAC Europe, a significant proportion of these attacks have occurred during Holy Week and Easter, the most important religious holiday for Christians around the world. In some cases, attackers have entered churches directly and disrupted services.
Among the most severe incidents recorded were arson attacks on churches in Germany and Italy, an explosion near a Christian center in the Netherlands, and a violent attack on a church in France during Easter celebrations. The report also reported the destruction of crosses, the breaking of religious statues, damage to cemeteries, and the spreading of anti-Christian and Satanic slogans.
Some of these incidents involved direct violence against individuals. In Ireland, a priest was attacked while celebrating Mass. In Spain, an attacker attacked people with an axe and reportedly shouted anti-Christian slogans during the attack. One quote in the report states that the attacker shouted: “All Christians must die.”
OIDAC Europe has warned that the recorded figures are likely to represent only a small part of the reality, as many vandalism, theft and suspected arson attacks against churches are not officially classified as “hate crimes” due to a lack of evidence. The organisation stressed that the current trend reflects “the ongoing security challenges facing places of worship and Christian communities in Europe”.
Other reports also show that concerns about the rise in hostility against Christians are not limited to one month or one country. The annual report by OIDAC Europe stated that in 2024 alone, more than 2,200 anti-Christian crimes were recorded in Europe, and physical attacks and arson attacks against churches were on the rise.
In Britain, a separate study of crimes related to churches and religious sites has raised concerns about the safety of Christian places of worship. At the same time, some church leaders and religious rights activists warn that the cultural and political climate in Europe is evolving in such a way that openly expressing one's Christian identity is facing pressure, threats or even violence in some societies.
