The Body of Christ was targeted in 11 European countries, with 37 anti-Christian hate crime attacks recorded in 2026, while a fellow Christian was charged with alleged hate speech for quoting the Word of God.
According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC), the majority of the attacks stemmed from 13 arson incidents in the month of May.
The other crimes include 10 cases of vandalism, 3 cases of desecration, 3 cases of physical violence, 3 thefts targeting religious objects, 3 cases of vandalism and violence, 1 case of incitement, and 1 disruption of worship.
The arson attacks against Christians remains one of the most serious patterns which has been documented during the year.
May represents the highest monthly figure recorded so far in 2026. Arson-related attacks were recorded across several countries, with Germany accounting for four cases, Italy for four cases, and France for three cases.
In Germany, the report stated that a total of 10 anti-Christian hate crimes, including 4 arson-related attacks, 2 cases of vandalism, 1 case of desecration, 1 theft targeting religious objects, and 2 cases involving vandalism and violence.
In Italy, a total of 8 anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded, including 2 arson-related attacks, 4 cases of vandalism, 1 case of desecration, and 1 case of incitement.
In France, a total of 8 anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded, including 3 arson-related attacks, 2 cases of vandalism, 1 case of desecration, and 2 thefts targeting religious objects.
In France, specifically, Christian statues were torn from graves, and a statue of Mary holding the infant Jesus was beheaded. The report also described several arson-related incidents, including a suspected arson attack at a parish hall in Tergnier while children were inside.
These attacks stemmed from churches and parish buildings being deliberately set on fire, as well as religious objects and church interiors being targeted.
The OIDAC Europe has also recorded 73 attacks and 9 fires under investigation or with unclear causes that affected churches and Christian property, which were not included in the statistical total, as anti-Christian bias could not be clearly established.
In Jamaica, the EU has been one of the country’s largest and most consistent partners for development cooperation and assistance. It has supported many areas such as poverty reduction, gender equality, and climate action.
Controversy also arose among many Christians and advocates who opposed the signing of the well-known Samoa Agreement, which took place in December 2023 in Jamaica.
