All cases

Universidad de Valladolid Bars Access to Chapel: "Whoever Wants to Pray, Go To the Field”

February 22, 2011, Spain

Due to “security reasons”, a glass panel has been set up in order to prevent any worshippers from entering the chapel of the University of Valladolid. The Christian student union “AJIO” met with the president of the university in order to express frustration over such a barrier. Their complaints were not heard, however, as the only answer received from the faculty remains, “God is everywhere. Go away to pray in the field.”

Church of Briosne-les-Sables Vandalised

February 22, 2011, France

The small church of Briosne-les-Sables was vandalized; the door was broken opened and the altar was damaged. Claude Trouillet, mayor of Briosne-les-Sables and the parish priest Father Jean-Marc have filed a complaint.

Statue of Mary, Mother of Jesus, Destroyed in Church

February 20, 2011, Liechtenstein

Unknown perpetrators have destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary by pulling it from the altar in a church in Schaan / Liechtenstein.

Chapel of Caubin Vandalised

February 19, 2011, France

The Chapel of Caubin, a XIIth century Historical Monument was the target of vandalism on Saturday, February 19th. Three windows were broken open with stones, lanterns and projector destroyed and crosses of the cemetery broken into pieces.

Communion Vessels Stolen From Church in Majadahonda

February 18, 2011, Spain

After a fire was set at the doors of Santa Catalina Mártir Church in Majadahonda on December 25th, 2010, the tabernacle containing two communion vessels was stolen in February 2011. The perpetrators used a lever to commit the crime, and took advantage of the fact that the Chuch doors remain open for prayers and meetings.

Voice in Favor of Stopping Prayers at House of Commons Proceedings

February 15, 2011, United Kingdom

A Conservative MP has said the House of Commons should stop saying prayers at the start of its proceedings. The contentious proposal could, Jo Johnson MP said, “save three or four minutes every day” and would better reflect the UK.

Christian Drug Expert Sacked from Government Advisory Panel Over Gay Dispute

February 14, 2011, United Kingdom

The Christian General Practitioner (GP) was sacked as a Government drugs adviser because he co-wrote a study linking homosexuality to paedophilia. In June 2011 he announced to take legal action to answer “increasing attempts” to marginalise Christians in public life.

Cemetery Vandalised in Alès

February 12, 2011, France

Ten to twelve graves were desecrated in the cimetery of Silhol in Alès. Stone crosses were broken and thrown to the floor. Funeral ornaments were destroyed and the door of a tomb was damaged.

Christians Flee After Verbal Attacks and Threats

February 10, 2011, Bosnia and Herzegovina

A Christian family of Kakanj suffered repeated verbal attacks and threats. They finally decided to leave their home as the pressure was becoming unbearable.

One of the World's Oldest Monasteries Expropriated

January 31, 2011, Turkey

The lands surrounding the Syrian-orthodox monastery of Mor Gabriel, near Midyat in South-Eastern Turkey, have been expropriated by Turkey’s supreme court. According to the verdict, the treasury of Turkey has a right to claim the lands.

Suspension of Catholic Services at the University of Barcelona Due to Protests by Secular Students

January 31, 2011, Spain

At the University of Barcelona protests by a group of secular students against the Catholic liturgical service on campus, including the interruption of the service, led to a cancelation of the weekly Wednesday Mass - until the University would be able to guarantee the safety of attending students.

EU High Representative Lady Ashton Deems Condemnation of Christian Persecution Politically Incorrect

January 31, 2011, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

EU Foreign Ministers rejected a draft resolution condemning the atrocities against Christian minorities in Egypt and Iraq, as they could not agree on the word ‘Christian’ in their draft statement in an effort to remain "politically correct."

Religion Teacher Forced to Remove a Crucifix and an Icon

January 30, 2011, Spain

A Catholic religion teacher was forced to remove a cross and an icon from a wall of a shared office in a secondary school in Zújar, Spain because two teachers said they were "offended" by them.

Christian Pro Life Activist Sentenced for Expressing His Opinion

January 25, 2011, Germany

Mr. Günther Annen demonstrated in front of the abortion clinic of Dr. Karl-Heinz Jordan twice in August 2010, displaying a sign which said: „Why does Dr. Karl-Heinz Jordan kill unborn children?“ He was sentenced for insult to a penalty of 1500 € by the Darnstadt public prosecutor's office on Jan. 25, 2011.

European Parliament Attacks Lithuanian Legislative Proposal Curbing Homosexualist Propaganda

January 19, 2011, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)

The European Parliament has issued a condemnation of a Lithuanian bill that seeks to prohibit the “public promotion of homosexual relations.” The bill proposes fines of between €580 and €2,900; it has not yet been passed by the Plenary of the Lithuanian Parliament and is still under review.

Stoning of a Church

January 17, 2011, Bosnia and Herzegovina

On January 17th, 2011, the church of Blagan-Buna (Mostar) was attacked with stones and its windows crashed.

Church Partially Burned, Religious Symbols Put on Fire

January 16, 2011, France

A Christian Church building in Hérouville-Saint-Clair, the outskirts of Caen, was vandalized at about 6 am on a Sunday morning. The Church of St. Francis, partially burned, cannot not accommodate the faithful until rebuild.

Vandalism at St. Barbara's in Peißenberg

January 13, 2011, Germany

A group of teenagers was causing great damage in the parish church of St. Barbara in Peißenberg over a longer period of time. They tossed down lamps, lit numerous candles and burnt death cards, rumpled altar cloths and stuffed them into the holy water vessel; they threw altar candles around in the church, and wrote with chalk on the church’s door. The sacristan had to dump 40 liters of holy water twice, and clean the distribution vessel, in which the youth had urinated.

Pope Mocked in Controversial Cartoon

January 10, 2011, Italy

A satirical cartoon depicting Pope Benedict XVI was shown in Italy’s public television RAI2. In the cartoon, the Pope says about Silvio Berlusconi since he “likes minors, he can always become a priest”. This caused quite an uproar as it was considered as defamatory.

Threats by Islamists against Coptic Churches in Europe

January 6, 2011, International

Christian Copts in Europe, particularly in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, celebrated Christmas on January 6th under special police protection.