All cases
Arson in Swiss Confessional
June 21, 2016, SwitzerlandOn July 2, Swiss police arrested a 51-year old suspected of intentionally setting fire to a confessional in the St. Gallon Cathedral.
Large Pentagram and 666 Painted on Church Graveyard
June 19, 2016, United KingdomA vandal sprayed satanic symbols, a large pentagram, and the number 666 onto the lawn of the graveyard at All Saints Church in Hull, Yorkshire.
German Newspaper: Orlando Shooter Could Just as Well Have Been Christian
June 16, 2016, GermanyGerman newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung a published commentary on the Orlando shooting in which it said the crime had nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with “homophobia” and that the shooter could just as well have been an Evangelical Christian.
Church of England Accused of Discrimination
June 16, 2016, United KingdomThe Church of England has been accused of discriminating against a lesbian couple by refusing to conduct their wedding.
Two Men Arrested for Vandalizing Cathedral
June 16, 2016, FranceThe cathedral Saint-Julien du Mans was spray painted with a dozen messages including "Ni dieu, ni maître", "Anti autorité", "belle porte", and "Le Mans zone pacifiée". Police caught the perpetrators in the act and took them into custody.
Vandals Deface Church in Slovenia
June 15, 2016, SloveniaA Catholic church in Celje was defaced with satanic words and symbols, resulting in 3,000 euros in damage.
Beloved Shrine Vandalized
June 15, 2016, SpainThe statues of the Virgin of Candelabra and Santo Herman Pedro were beheaded by unknown vandals in a sanctuary in the mountain town of Cabo Blanco in Tenerife.
Christian Converts in Hamburg Threatened
June 14, 2016, GermanySecurity guards at refugee camps in Hamburg have reportedly told the Christian residents to keep their faith a secret, claiming they cannot protect them if their secret is revealed.
Christian Refugees Attacked by Muslims during Ramadan
June 12, 2016, GermanyA Christian refugee family of four was attacked by Muslims in their shared refugee accommodations for not participating in Ramadan. The family members were taken to a hospital in Seligenstadt due to their injuries. The mother and two sons were attacked with chairs and one of the sons was struck in the arms with a sharp object. The father suffered from arrhythmia due to the attack. During the attack the radical Muslims stated "Let us kill the unbelieving Christians, punish!" ("Lasst uns die ungläubigen Christen abschlachten, bestrafen!"). Police were able to intervene and the Christian family has been moved to a different refugee accommodation.
Two Church Fires in a Weekend in Narón
June 11, 2016, SpainIn the early hours of Friday, June 10th to Saturday, June 11, two clearly intentional fires were discovered in two different churches in Narón. Each resulted in significant damage to the religious buildings. Incendiary devices were found in both churches. The fires were investigated by agents of the state security forces, as well as the local Narón police.
Holy See Urges OSCE and Council of Europe to Pay Attention to Discrimination Against Christians
June 9, 2016, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)The Holy See’s Permanent Representative to UN offices in Vienna, Msgr. Janusz Urbanczyk, has urged the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe to pay greater attention to discrimination against Europe’s Christians.
Parliamentary Report Finds Inadequate Assessment of Religion-Based Asylum Claims
June 7, 2016, United KingdomThe All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief released a 35-page report in which it said the questions used to assess conversion asylum claims demonstrated a "lack of understanding and misperceptions of religion."
Christian Union Banned From Holding Meetings on College Premises
June 7, 2016, United KingdomA Christian union has been banned from holding meetings on college premises, as a result of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy "Prevent".
Islamists Attack Christian Refugees
June 7, 2016, GermanyA group of 30 thirty people, led by a self-proclaimed imam, attacked a Syrian Christian and his roommate at the Rottach-Egern refugee accommodation.
Relic of Pope John Paul II Stolen from Cologne Cathedral
June 5, 2016, GermanyGerman police report that unknown perpetrators stole a small piece of fabric with a drop of the Pope's blood.
Christian Refugees in Austria Harassed and Threatened
June 5, 2016, AustriaChristian refugees in various accommodation centers in Austria endured abuse at the hands of Muslim fellow refugees, including being forced to wake early in the morning to pray, being told they were impure, having belongings stolen, and instances of physical violence.
Court Case begins for Norwegian Doctor Fired for Exercising Right to Conscience
June 1, 2016, NorwayKatarzyna Jachimowicz, a Polish family physician working in Norway, became the first medical professional in the country fired because she exercised her conscience rights by refusing to administer abortifacients.
Church the Victim of Two Fires in One Day
May 24, 2016, BelgiumIn Mont-Sainte-Geneviève, two fires significantly damaged an historic church. The first started in the sacristy. The fire fighters had just left the scene after managing to control that fire when another much bigger fire in the church roof was reported.
European Court of Human Rights Finds Turkey Interfered with Freedom of Religion
May 24, 2016, TurkeyThe case concerned the inability of Mersin and Izmir Jehovah's Witnesses in Turkey to obtain an appropriate place to engage in worship due to restrictive laws. The ECtHR held that such restrictions amounted to a direct interference with their freedom of religion.
Three Incidents in Churches in the Same Region in Just Two Weeks
May 22, 2016, FranceIn a press release Father Benoît Delabre reported that on May 15th the altar in the Church of St. Madeleine-de-l'Île was set on fire in Martigues, about 800 kilometers south of Paris. On the same day, another unknown person desecrated the tabernacle which contained the consecrated hosts in the church at Jonquières in the same region. Additionally, Father Delabre himself was attacked a week later by a man he caught at the church door who appeared to be “trying to steal something.”
Green Party a Threat to Religious Liberty in Australia
May 21, 2016, InternationalArchbishop Anthony Fisher warned that religious liberty is at stake in Australia's national elections because of the Green's proposed $32 million "Safe Schools" Program which would charge parents, schools, and churches with discrimination if they fail to conform.
Catholic Pensioner Murdered in her Sleep; Left with Crucifix in her Hands
May 19, 2016, GermanyA 27-year old Muslim man was found guilty and given a life sentence for the murder of a 70-year-old woman in Bad Friedrichshall on May 19, 2016. After strangling the woman with a telephone cord, Abubaker C. left writing on the wall "It's payback time" and put a cross in the woman's hands. He then stole valuables and fled. The prosecution argued that the murderer's motive was both theft and to kill a "disbeliever".
Catholic Nursing Home to Stand Trial for Denying Active Euthanasia
May 18, 2016, BelgiumIn 2011, after initially agreeing to euthanasia for a 74-year-old cancer patient, a Catholic nursing home denied the physician access to the patient. The patient had to be taken home where she could receive the doctor.
Evangelical Church Attacked in Manosque
May 18, 2016, FranceAn Assemblies of God church in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azurin was the victim of arson. Bibles and other books inside the church were stacked up and burnt, according to Pastor Alain Denizou.
Catholic and Protestant Churches Protest Exclusion from Population Information
May 17, 2016, NetherlandsLegislation puts an end to a program that helped churches keep track of their local memberships using data provided by the municipal administration.
Christian Refugees Face Discrimination in Austria
May 13, 2016, AustriaAccording to the NGO "Christian Solidarity International" (CSI), Christian refugees are being repeatedly discriminated against in Austrian refugee centers.
Greens Demand Ban on Pro-Life Presentations at Schools
May 12, 2016, AustriaIn April 2016, members of the Green Party in Austria submitted a Parliamentary Question to evaluate possible actions to stop “pro-life” workshops in religious education.
Vandalism at Catholic School in Nantes
May 11, 2016, FranceCatholic School Notre-Dame de l’Abbaye in Nantes was vandalized twice in two weeks.
Arms of Jesus on Crucifix Statue Broken
May 3, 2016, GermanyTwice in four weeks, an unknown perpetrator broke the arms off the Jesus figure displayed above hotels along a route frequently used by walkers and cyclists.
106 Catholic Websites Hacked by Tunisian "Cyberjihadists"
April 16, 2016, FranceOn April 16th, many Catholics discovered that their parish website’s home page was replaced with messages in English denouncing "terrorism against Muslims” in Burma by Buddhists, and in Palestine by "Zionists" or in Mali by the "French forces." The messages were set against a black background and topped with a Tunisian flag.
Television Presenter Calls Christian a "Homophobe"; Receives No Sanctions
April 12, 2016, United KingdomPiers Morgan will not face sanctions after asking a Christian who opposed same-sex marriage whether he was a "homophobe".
Pro-Abortion Activist Dresses as Bishop; Hands out Abortion Pills at "Communion"
April 10, 2016, HungaryPro-Abortion activists held a demonstration on April 10 in front of the Polish Embassy in Budapest to protest the tightening of Poland's abortion law.
Turkey Seizes Six Churches as State Property
April 6, 2016, TurkeyIn the region of Diyarbakir, the Turkish government seized huge sections of property, including six churches. One of these is a 1,700 year old Syriac Orthodox Church.
Magistrate Removed from Office, Suspended from NHS Trust, for Christian Belief in Traditional Family
March 29, 2016, United KingdomA Christian magistrate Richard Page has been removed from office by the Lord Chancellor after sharing his personal conviction in a media interview that there is not enough evidence to show that placing children in the care of same-sex couples is in their best interest.
Arson in Calais Church
March 28, 2016, FranceL’église Saint-Pierre suffered deliberate damage during the afternoon of Easter Monday: five separate fires started inside the building while it was open to the public. The abbot has filed a complaint.
Several Statues Vandalized over Ten Days in Lyon Churches
March 22, 2016, FranceOn March 22nd, several statues of St. Joseph, located in the chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges and the church of Saint-Pothin, were destroyed by vandals.
Attack at Brussels Airport and Metro Killed 32 People; Injured over 300
March 22, 2016, BelgiumISIS took responsibility for three coordinated suicide bombings in Brussels: two at Zaventem Airport and one at Maalbeek metro station which killed 32 people from around the world and injured over 300. The Islamic State announced "By the grace of Allah and His gratitude alone, a security detachment from the soldiers of the Caliphate, may Allah dignify it and support it, launched to target Crusader Belgium..."
Vandals Hit a Chapel in Upper Bavaria
March 19, 2016, GermanyDuring the night of March 19, unknown perpetrators entered a small chapel in Obervockling, removed a statue of the Virgin Mary, and set a plastic flower vase, small altar cloths, and some branches on fire inside the chapel.
Series of Suspicious Fires in Blois Cathedral
March 18, 2016, FranceFirefighters responded quickly to extinguish the fire, which originated with burning furniture in the Cathédrale Saint-Louis during the afternoon of March 18th.
Chapel Vandalized in Mailleroncourt-Charette
March 14, 2016, FranceA small chapel dedicated to St. Léger was the victim of vandalism and attempted theft. Unknown perpetrators broke through the iron doors and dismantled the limestone slab floor, with the apparent intent to steal the materials.
Second Church in Valence Tagged with Graffiti
March 13, 2016, FranceThe facade of the church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Valence was tagged with anarchist slogans in black spray paint and covered with red paint. It is the second such incident over the weekend in Valence.
Valence Church Vandalized with Paint
March 12, 2016, FranceThe facade of Notre-Dame church in Valence was splashed with red paint and tagged with anarchist graffiti some time between Saturday, March 12th and Sunday, the 13th. The priest discovered the damage before Mass on Sunday.
Theft of Consecrated Host in Andalucia
March 11, 2016, SpainIn the afternoon of March 11th, a small container holding the consecrated host was stolen from the Franciscan Monastery in Jaén.
Côte-d'Or Chapel Vandalized
March 11, 2016, FranceThe 13th century chapel of Saint-Ambroise of Busserotte-et-Montenaille, in Grancey-le-Château, was found completely ransacked.
Armed Robbery at Upper Austria Church
March 9, 2016, AustriaAt 2:15 in the afternoon of March 9, 2016, three men entered the rectory of the Catholic parish in Laakirchen of the Linz diocese and, armed with a handgun, demanded cash from the priest and a member of his staff.
Graffiti Attack on Barcelona Church
March 8, 2016, SpainThe parish of San Andrés de Palomar was sprayed with the words "Fuego sálvanos de la Iglesia" (Fire: save us from the Church) accompanied by an anarchist symbol.
Ljubljana Cathedral Vandalized with Graffiti
March 8, 2016, SloveniaThe words (translated from Slovenian) "Church get out of my womb" and "RCC (Roman Catholic Church) get out of our vaginas" were sprayed on the wall of the Franciscan church.
Activists Attack Church in Lérida
March 7, 2016, SpainThe youth organization Arran has taken responsibility for a graffiti attack against a church in the Catalonia region. The wall outside the church was painted lilac and the words "Contra los ataques de la Iglesia. Juntos somos más fuertes" ("Against the attacks of the the Church. Together we are stronger.")
Paint Bomb Attack at Evangelical Academy in Gießen
March 7, 2016, GermanyIn the night between March 7-8, the Freien Theologischen Hochschule (FTH) building in Gießen was hit with paint bombs. An anonymous claim of responsibility was published on a left-wing internet platform
Statue of Pope Benedict XVI Vandalized in Bavaria
March 6, 2016, GermanyDuring the night from March 5-6, unknown perpetrators sprayed the monument to Pope Benedict in front of the St. Oswald church in Traunstein with pink paint. Police are investigating.
Christians Harassed by Muslim Security Staff at Berlin Office for Health and Social Affairs
March 2, 2016, GermanyMuslim refugees at the regional office complained about having to sit in the waiting room with "impure Christians". Security staff responded by banning the Christians for six months.
Crosses Ordered Removed from District Court in Saarbrücken
March 2, 2016, GermanyStefan Geib, president of the district court in Saarbrücken, announced the removal of crosses from meeting rooms. They are to be replaced by the state seal.
Peaceful Protest in Stuttgart Disrupted by Counter-Demonstrators
February 28, 2016, GermanyA peaceful manifestation by 4,500 supporters of Demo für Alle against a proposed education program was disrupted by counter-demonstrators, resulting in clashes with police and 18 people injured, including 3 police.
Serbian Orthodox Church Desecrated and Looted in Kosovo
February 28, 2016, KosovoOn February 28th, Slobodan Djoric, the priest of the Church of the Dormitition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Pejčići, reported to the police that the 17th century church had been the victim of theft and vandalism.
Church in Aube Looted
February 28, 2016, FranceThe church of Saint-Martin of Dommartin-le-Coq was the victim of a burglary sometime between the 23rd and 27th of February.
Christian Postgraduate Student Expelled for Opposing Gay Marriage
February 27, 2016, United KingdomA Sheffield University social work postgraduate student, Felix Ngole, was expelled from his course for posting on his Facebook page that homosexual activity is against the teaching of the Bible.
Antifa Admits Attack on Demo für Alle
February 26, 2016, GermanyIn advance of a planned peaceful demonstration on February 28 in Stuttgart by Christian activists against a new school curriculum emphasizing gender ideology, the radical left group "Antifa" attacked the building owned by a financier of the buses provided for the demonstration.
Church in French Antilles the Victim of Desecration, Theft, and Vandalism
February 24, 2016, FranceDuring the night between February 23-24, burglars entered the church of Saint-Augustin in the Guadeloupe town of Saint-Claude and destroyed the tabernacle, opened the ciborium and removed the consecrated Hosts, and stole the entire sound system.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye: A Series of Profanations of Shrines in a Forest
February 17, 2016, FranceSeven small religious shrines, little boxes topped by a cross and containing statuettes of saints, have been desecrated for years.
French Mayor Brought before Administrative Tribunal of the League of Human Rights
February 17, 2016, FranceJulien Sanchez, mayor of Beauclaire, was denounced by the League of Human Rights on February 17th for having displayed a creche at the city hall at Christmas time.
Paris Court Acquits Femen
February 16, 2016, FranceA Paris court acquitted members of the radical feminist group Femen who had in November 2012 disrupted Catholic families peacefully protesting in defense of traditional marriage, topless with vulgar anti-church slogans written on their bodies and spraying fire extinguishers at the group.
Iranian Christians Kicked Out of Refugee Home After Being Attacked
February 14, 2016, GermanySix Iranian Christian refugees were told by a security employee of the Tempelhof accommodation that they had an hour to leave because they were trouble-makers. Just days earlier, these six men had been threatened with beatings by 70 radical Muslim refugees for reading the Bible.
Chapel Vandalized in Trévé
February 13, 2016, FranceThe chapel of Saint-Pierre, originally dating from the 5th century and which is being restored, was vandalized. Portions of the posts of the portico holding the roof were sawn with chainsaws. Motives are unclear, as there was no wood taken. The mayor is outraged and the police are investigating.
UPDATE: Afghan Asylum Seeker Indicted for Attempted Homicide
February 10, 2016, GermanyThe Hamburg prosecutor has indicted a 23-year-old Afghan asylum seeker Mohebolla A. He is said to have attacked and seriously injured a 24-year-old Amir H., an Iranian Christian, with a telescopic baton on 18 October in a shelter.
Longueville Cemetery Crucifixes Vandalized
February 10, 2016, FranceOn the evening of Wednesday, February 10, a municipal officer discovered 16 vandalized crucifixes in a cemetery.
Separate Housing for Christian Refugees in Stuttgart Approved
February 10, 2016, GermanyDue to frequent reports of abuse, harassment, and assaults against Christian refugees at the hands of their Muslim co-habitatants, the City of Stuttgart has approved new, separate, accommodations.
Church Vandalized near Graz
February 8, 2016, AustriaOver the weekend of February 6-7, an unknown vandal left graffiti on the parish church in Kalsdorf bei Graz, in Styria. The graffiti included vague symbols and letter combinations, as well as a swastika smeared on the pillar of the church canopy.
Parish Church of Kervignac Vandalized
February 6, 2016, FranceOn February 6, 2016, the parish church of Kervignac (Diocese of Vannes) was the victim of vandalism: papers scattered on the floor, an umbrella left in pieces, candles broken, all the confessionals left wide open, flowers thrown to the ground, and the altar cloth left in rags.
Christian Refugee Attacked in Berlin Camp
February 3, 2016, GermanyA member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Berlin-Stegliz was attacked because of his Christian faith in the refugee camp where he lives.
Church and Mosque Destroyed in Calais "Jungle"
February 1, 2016, FranceDespite promises to the contrary, officials from the Calais Prefecture bulldozed a church and a mosque in the refugee camp.
Mass at Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Repeatedly Disrupted
February 1, 2016, FranceAccording to the parish priest, beginning on January 5th, eggs have been thrown at the windows of the Nancy chapel every evening during the 7pm Mass.
Chapel Vandalized in Lyon
February 1, 2016, FranceOn February 1st, an unknown perpetrator broke into the chapel of la Famille Missionnaire de Notre-Dame à Lyon around 5:00pm and vandalized the statue of the Virgin Mary, which was found on the ground with a demolished head.
Historic Bruyères-le-Châtel Church Vandalized; Consecrated Hosts Stolen
January 31, 2016, FranceUnknown perpetrators broke a window, overturned the tabernacle, stole the ciborium containing consecrated Hosts, and sacked the sacristy. The bishop of Evry called it a "rampage." According to a parishioner, this was not the first time the church had been a victim, as graffiti had been found last year. However, this attack was much more serious. "Consecrated Hosts were stolen. For someone who doesn't believe, this probably does not matter much. For [Catholics] it is the most serious. It is the body of Christ. It is Jesus who was attacked." For the bishop of Evry, "this is a real attack against the Catholic Church. It is the symbol of the sacred that has been affected. There is a will to do harm." (Translated from French).
1,700 Year Old Orthodox Church Damaged
January 28, 2016, TurkeySt. Mary Church, a Syriac Orthodox church, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, destroying a portion of the wall in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir.
Police Spokesman Reported Muslims Trying to Expel Christians From Grande-Synthe Camp
January 27, 2016, FranceForty shots were fired in what was termed a quarrel between rival smuggler gangs at the Grande-Synthe refugee camp near Dunkirk. David Michaux, a CRS anti-riot officer from the Unsa-police union, told Le Figaro: "There is a real problem between Muslims and non-Muslims. Most of the camp's 3,000-odd occupants are Muslim Kurds from Iraq, Iran and Syria but a minority are Christians from Iran." He went on to say "The Muslims are trying to expel the Christians from the camp."
Seville Church the Victim of Burglary
January 24, 2016, SpainThieves have stolen three silver ciboria, chalices and the contents of collection boxes from the Corpus Christi church.
Bouches-du-Rhône Church Hit with Vandalism
January 23, 2016, FranceOn the 23rd January, Deputy Mayor Marcel Galli discovered that the Sainte Marie Madeleine de Plan-de-Cuques church (of the Marseille diocese) had been smeared with tar on three facades, with many circles painted on the walls, and large lines were drawn on the ground. The large wooden doors of the entrance to the church and the sacristy, the surface of the front porch, and entrance hall were also damaged by tar.
Bullied Christian Refugees Demand Separate Accommodations
January 20, 2016, GermanyAssyrian refugees hope to be housed apart from Muslims in the future camp near Stuttgart due to conflicts and threats.
German Pastor Warns of Dire Situation for Christians in Refugee Camps
January 18, 2016, Germany“The situation in refugee camps, especially in Berlin is very dramatic”, said Pastor Gottfried Martens of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Berlin. Around 1.000 refugees from Iran, Afghanistan and the Arabic world visit his community.
French Pastor Reported Murder of Christian Refugee at Camp Near Dunkirk
January 18, 2016, FranceIn a series of emails to a French blog, Pastor Daniel O. described the beatings, stabbings, disappearance, and presumed murder of an Iranian Christian at the Grande-Synthe refugee camp.
Mallorca Gay Men's Chorus Dress as Nuns
January 18, 2016, SpainMallorca Gay Men's Chorus dressed as nuns in a concert for the celebration of St. Sebastian, patron saint of Palma de Mallorca.
French Crèche the Victim of Vandalism
January 17, 2016, FranceTwenty figurines in the Nativity scene installed in the church of Chamaret were beheaded.
Cantal: Church Robbed of Ciborium and Consecrated Hosts
January 15, 2016, FranceA theft occurred in the Church of Notre Dame de Quézac, sometime between Thursday, January 14th and Friday 15th. A ciborium, a gold sacred vase containing a hundred consecrated Hosts, was stolen from a tabernacle, a small wardrobe. The police have opened an investigation.
Montauban Church Vandalized
January 14, 2016, FranceSaint-Jacques church, located in the city center, was the target of vandalism by unknown perpetrators.
FIFA Erased a Brazilian Football Player's Reference to the Christian Faith
January 11, 2016, SwitzerlandFIFA, the highest institution in the world of football, censored a reference to Jesus by Ballon d’Or candidate Neymar.
Orthodox Priest Reports Harassment of Christians in Refugee Camps
January 11, 2016, GermanyChristian refugees are exposed to harassment at the refugee camps in Germany, says Hegumen Daniel (Irbits) father superior of the St. George the Victorious Monastery in Gotschendorf, member of the Integration Committee at the German Federal Chancellery.
Theft and Vandalism at Orthodox Church in Kosovo
January 11, 2016, KosovoOn January 11, 2016, a member of the St.Demetrios Church in Sušica discovered a broken window and the theft of the trunk for offerings had been stolen. The police are investigating.
Nantes: Fire in the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas
January 10, 2016, FranceAround 4pm, a parishioner noticed two individuals at a table covered with tablecloth. They left quickly and the parishioner immediately noticed a fire had broken out on the furniture. She extinguished the fire with her shoes.
Arson and Desecration at Fontainebleau Church
January 10, 2016, FranceThe sixteenth century church Saint-Louis was entirely burnt out, images, including that of the baby Jesus, were desecrated, and the ciborium containing consecrated Hosts was stolen.
Seine-et-Marne: A Cross Vandalized in the Forest of Fontainebleau
January 10, 2016, FranceOn the same night that an arson fire swept through the church of Saint-Louis of Fontainebleau, a historic cross in the forest was toppled from its base.
Vandalism Sparked Uproar in Morigny-Champigny
January 8, 2016, FranceA Catholic church in Morigny was tagged with grafitti, just days before the Fontainebleau Church was the victim of a serious arson.
Controversial Magazine Charlie Hebdo Depicts God as Kalashnikov-Carrying Killer
January 6, 2016, FranceThe magazine's cover for the anniversary edition commemorating the attacks one year ago depicts an angry, violent God and contains the headline (translated): "One year later, the assassin is still on the run".
Syrian Muslim Threatens to Kill Christian Woman's Baby
January 6, 2016, GermanyIn a community shelter for refugees in Ballenstedt (Harz), a Muslim Syrian threatened an Eritrean Christian woman that he would kill her baby while she slept.
Nativity Scene in French Church Vandalized Twice
January 6, 2016, FranceOn December 30 and January 6, wax statues in the nativity scene were vandalized. These figures were more than a century old and familiar to the faithful of Sainte-Catherine parish in Le Passage-d’Agen. The abbot of Thibaud de La Serre, the parish priest, and the mayor issued a joint press release to express the town’s dismay and sorrow over the incidents.
44 Crucifixes Stolen From Cemetery in Petite-Ile
January 4, 2016, FranceOn the morning of January 4, as he opened the cemetery, a guard discovered that many crucifixes had been removed.
Another Jesus Nativity Figure Decapitated in Bergamo Region
January 3, 2016, ItalyA nativity scene in Treviglio was destroyed and the Jesus statue taken and beheaded by unknown perpetrators.
French Cathedral Tagged
January 3, 2016, FranceThe Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-l’Annonciation in Nancy was spray painted with "Spray for Paris" - a distortion of the message "Pray for Paris".
Floats for Parade of Kings Burned
January 3, 2016, SpainThe four floats that would be used in the traditional procession of the Three Kings were found burned on the Sunday before Epiphany in Arriate.
Brussels Christmas Tree Destroyed by Petrol Bomb
January 3, 2016, BelgiumYouths in Brussels yelled 'Allahu Akbar' as they set fire to a Christmas tree in a public square using a home made petrol bomb.
Attempted Arson in Evangelical Church in Crégy-lès-Meaux
January 2, 2016, FranceGasoline had been poured inside the church and a half-burnt rag was found on one of the dining chairs.