All cases

Vandalism Sparked Uproar in Morigny-Champigny

January 8, 2016, France

A 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, France

The 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, Germany

In 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, France

On 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, France

On 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, Italy

A nativity scene in Treviglio was destroyed and the Jesus statue taken and beheaded by unknown perpetrators.

French Cathedral Tagged

January 3, 2016, France

The 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, Spain

The 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, Belgium

Youths 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, France

Gasoline had been poured inside the church and a half-burnt rag was found on one of the dining chairs.

Statue of St. Joseph Decapitated; Finger of Infant Jesus Broken

January 1, 2016, Italy

Police are investigating the destruction of Nativity statues in a creche in front of a church in Dorga in the Bergamo region.

Statue of Baby Jesus in Fibbiana Nativity Beheaded; Legs Broken

January 1, 2016, Italy

In Piazza S. Rocco, Fibbiana not only was the statue of the infant Jesus broken, but the entire nativity was attacked with firecrackers and fireworks.

Refugee's Life Threatened After He Revealed Conversion to Christianity

January 1, 2016, Germany

A 19-year-old man told another refugee (18) that he was no longer a Muslim, but had become a Christian. The 18-year-old responded: "Then I will cut your throat. For this, I do not even need permission from IS. "

Nativity Figure of Infant Jesus "Hanged" with Noose in Pitelli

December 31, 2015, Italy

The act was condemned by the Bishop, as well as the President, of the region of Liguria.

Statue of Hand Painted Baby Jesus Destroyed by Firecracker

December 31, 2015, Italy

In Villa d'Almè, a group of unknown perpetrators threw a big firecracker into the hut containing the creche where the hand painted statue of the baby Jesus been placed on Christmas Eve.

Norway Begins Adoption Process for 5 Children Seized From Christian Parents

December 31, 2015, Norway

Norwegian child services have begun the adoption process for five children who were seized from a Romanian Pentecostal family in November after concerns were expressed about the parents' Christian faith, the family says.

New Year's Eve Mass at Cologne Cathedral Deliberately Disrupted

December 31, 2015, Germany

The shelling of the Cologne Cathedral with fireworks and firecrackers on New Year's evening between 6:30 and 7:45 pm was a targeted disruption of the service.

Haut-Rhin Church & Creche Tagged; Infant Jesus Burned

December 31, 2015, France

The figure of the nearly life-size Christ child was burned in a crib display on December 31 at about 10 pm, while the faces of his parents and a wall of the adjacent Catholic church were tagged with spraypaint.

Catholic Schoolchildren in Madrid Banned from Three Kings Parade

December 31, 2015, Spain

Approximately 800 students at a Catholic school in Madrid’s southern Carabanchel district have been excluded from a local parade by city authorities.

Nuremberg Church Target of Firework Attack on New Year's Eve

December 31, 2015, Germany

Similar to the attacks on the Cologne Cathedral on New Year's Eve, hundreds of men gathered in front of the Lorenzkirche in Nuremberg and shot firework missiles at its roof.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Figures Stolen from Villejuif Creche

December 28, 2015, France

The figure of the infant Jesus was stolen first, and the figures of his parents, Mary and Joseph were stolen the next day, along with the crib and straw.

Suspicious Burning of Nativity Display in Giraumont

December 27, 2015, France

During the night between December 27th and 28th, the city's nativity display was burned and partially destroyed.

Creche Vandalized in Aix-en-Issart

December 27, 2015, France

Mayor Pierre La Fonte was awakened at 2am by the police, who reported that the creche in a public square had been vandalized.

Religious Statues Spray-Painted at Site Dedicated to the Virgin Mary

December 27, 2015, France

Several religious statues, among which Jesus Christ was central, as well as a commemorative plaque and the floor were all spray painted red in a grotto altar in Libaux.

Image of St. John the Evangelist Banned from Rochester Train Station

December 27, 2015, United Kingdom

Network Rail, partly funded by taxpayer money, argued it was "overtly Christian" and that it would offend "multi-cultural values".

Church of Saint-Martin-sur-Ocre Tagged

December 26, 2015, France

In Loiret, a church was tagged with vulgar and insulting slogans ("Nique Jesus"), as well as "Allahu Akbar" during the night of December 26-27th.

Christians Attacked in Berlin Mitte a Day After Christmas

December 26, 2015, Germany

“I am Muslim. What are you?” After asking this question, unidentified Muslim and others beat up five Christians.

Statue of Jesus Destroyed on St. Stephen's Day

December 26, 2015, Italy

In Albino, on December 26, 2015, the crib outside the parish church of San Giuliano containing the statue of the infant Jesus was targeted.

Fire Completely Destroys City Manger Scene

December 25, 2015, Spain

The manger scene in the municipality of Villa del Prado (Madrid) was completely destroyed by a fire on December 25th at 4am.

Two of Thirteen Creche Installations Burned in Masevaux

December 24, 2015, France

The first creche was damaged by fire on the night of December 22nd and the second, including the ornaments and figures, was completely destroyed by fire on December 24th.

Public Nativity Scene Attacked by Vandals in Pamplona

December 24, 2015, Spain

On December 24th, the morning of Christmas Eve, vandals toppled and damaged figures in the enormous nativity scene, which is installed every year in a public park.

German Newspaper Refuses to Publish Church's Advertisement

December 20, 2015, Germany

The Weser-Kurier in Bremen has refused to publish an advertisement of a local Evangelical church containing a bible passage.

Tabernacle Vandalized in French Church

December 18, 2015, France

Father Louis Villoutreys reported on Twitter that a tabernacle in l’église Saint-Vincent in Naintré was vandalized by unknown perpetrators.

National Association of Assyrians in Sweden Victim of Arson

December 16, 2015, Sweden

The association's headquarters in the city of Södertälje was completely destroyed during the night between the 16th to 17th of December.

Berlin Court Reverses Injunctions; Allows Incitement to Violence in the Name of Art

December 15, 2015, Germany

In the name of artistic expression, a Berlin court reversed injunctions it had issued and has now permitted the staging of a play ("Fear") which displays photos of pro-family organizers and explicitly incites hatred against them.

Men Attempt to Disarm Soldiers Guarding Cathedral in Rome

December 15, 2015, Italy

A Palestinian and a Tunisian attempted to disarm soldiers stationed outside Santa Maria Maggiore cathedral while yelling "Allah (God) is great", Rome police said Tuesday.

Theft from Creche in Hauts-de-Seine

December 14, 2015, France

A statue of the Virgin of Fatima, given to the parish of Sainte-Bernadette de Chaville by the Portuguese community, was stolen on December 14th.

UPDATE: Hamburg Police Arrest Refugee for Attempted Manslaughter

December 14, 2015, Germany

The Hamburg police arrested the Afghan asylum seeker Amir Mahaballa. He is said to have attacked and seriously injured a 24-year-old Iranian Christian at a refugee camp in October. He sits on remand before trial on the charge of attempted manslaughter.

Knife Attack and Murder in Grande Synthe Camp

December 14, 2015, France

According to Open Doors France, police are investigating a knife attack by Iraqi migrants against Christian refugees which left several wounded and one 19-year-old man dead.

Creche Vandalized in la Grand-Place de Bruxelles

December 13, 2015, Belgium

Three people aged 20, 21 and 24 were arrested after they vandalized the manger of the Grand-Place during the night from Saturday to Sunday. In addition to damaging the structure, they stole the figure of the baby Jesus and threw it on the ground.

Church Vandalized in Verviers, in the province of Liege

December 13, 2015, Belgium

The church Sainte-Julienne, which had previously been tagged with spray paint, was again vandalized as a window was broken by rocks being thrown.

Church Bells Destroyed in French Chapel

December 13, 2015, France

Vandals broke into the locked chapel of Saint-Hervé-Ménez Bré in Pédernec and rang the church bells so hard that one of them is irreparably broken while the other, off-axis from its support, is stuck.

Proposed UK School Regulations May Put Christian Sunday Schools and Summer Camps at Risk

December 13, 2015, United Kingdom

Plans for Ofsted to regulate out-of-school settings could burden churches, discourage volunteers and cause unnecessary distress to children, a Conservative MP has warned.

Christians Attacked by Guards in Refugee Camps

December 10, 2015, Germany

At the end of November five Muslim security employees beat two refugees from Iran for having a bible in their room.

Fire Investigated at Collegiate Church of Saint-Junien

December 7, 2015, France

Upon his arrival at the church, the priest discovered three small fires in separate parts of the church.

Syrian Arrested on Suspicion of Beating and Threatening 16 Year Old

December 3, 2015, Sweden

A 26-year-old Syrian, known as "N.N.," was arrested on suspicion of beating and threatening a 16-year-old at an asylum house in Borgholm.

Archbishop Disinvited from Elementary School Pre-Christmas Visit

December 2, 2015, Italy

School officials point to respect for the "multicultural character" of their student body as the reason.

Religious Images Prohibited in School Christmas Card Contest

December 2, 2015, Spain

The prohibition was imposed by a secular parents' association in Cantabria (Cantabria FAPA) when they announced the annual card-drawing contest.

Website of the Diocese of Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron Hacked

December 1, 2015, France

According to reports, this was a targeted hacking.

Seventh Cemetery in 18 Months Desecrated by Vandals

December 1, 2015, France

This time, thirteen crucifixes were torn from their graves and were thrown to the ground, broken, or planted upside down.