All cases

Hamburg Court Acquits Afghan Charged with Attempted Homicide against Christian Convert

September 5, 2016, Germany

Christian leaders and the Christian Police Union criticized the acquittal, noting that all of the witnesses were Muslims - many of whom helped the accused flee after the incident.

Porch of Church Burnt as Street Fire Spread

September 3, 2016, France

In Roubaix, the porch of the church of Sacré-Cœur was destroyed by fire during the night from 2-3 September. Rubbish, including a bench, were burned on the boulevard de Strasbourg and the fire spread to the door of the church.

Arson in Passau Catholic Church

September 1, 2016, Germany

Unknown offenders tried to set the altar of the St. Anton church on fire in the morning of September 1st. They also damaged furniture, painting, and statues according to the police, who call it a case of vandalism.

Pressures on Christian Refugees Continue in Sweden

September 1, 2016, Sweden

Refugees who have converted from Islam to Christianity report beatings, threats, bullying, and social exclusion in refugee accommodations.

Four Spanish Bishops Threatened with Prosecution for Criticism of LGBT law

August 31, 2016, Spain

Three of the bishops are being threatened with a criminal complaint for having written and published a condemnation of Madrid’s new “Law of Integral Protection against LGTBIphobia and Discrimination for Reasons of Orientation and Sexual Identity.” The fourth bishop is being criminally investigated for expressing support for the statement of the first three.

Security Guidance Sent to UK Churches after Murder of French Priest

August 31, 2016, United Kingdom

The organization National Churchwatch issued a new security guidance to every church in the UK in the wake of the murder of French priest Jacques Hamel by Islamist terrorists.

Nurse Fired for Talking about Faith with Patients

August 31, 2016, United Kingdom

A Christian nurse was fired for "gross misconduct" by the NHS for talking to her patients about her faith and occasionally offering prayer to help them prepare for surgery. Part of her job was to help patients complete a questionnaire, which included a question about religion.

Albanians Threaten to Burn Serbs and their Churches

August 28, 2016, Kosovo

Attempts by Serbs to mark the religious holiday of Assumption in several towns in Kosovo and Metohija were met with road blocks, threats of burning, rocks, tear gas, and an attack on the car of the deputy director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Dusan Kozarev.

Vandalism and Attempted Arson in Hautmont Church

August 27, 2016, France

Police opened an investigation after a bystander reported smelling smoke from the church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption. Investigators discovered damaged statues, as well as missals, songbooks, and wreaths knocked to the floor. The altar tablecloth was burnt, but the fire did not spread to the rest of the church.

Four Summit Crosses Damaged in the Bavarian Alps

August 27, 2016, Germany

From May to August 2016 four wooden summit crosses in the Bad Tölz-Wolfrashausen region were destroyed by unknown perpetrators using an ax.