All cases
Hate Crimes Against Christians 2009
December 31, 2009, RussiaFind here a list of cases for the year 2009 which was brought to our attention .
Churches and Cemeteries Vandalized
December 27, 2009, LithuaniaIn 2008 and 2009 several isolation cases of vandalizing of churches took place in various parts of Lithuania. These cases include on breaking into churches and vandalizing cemeteries, presumably by satanic groups. Some cases were reported to the police.
Hooliganism and Murder of Orthodox Priest in Russian Podolsk District
December 22, 2009, RussiaThe orthodox archpriest was shot dead by criminals after he admonished them for hooliganism. The killers came to the church and defecated in the hallway. The priest asked them to stop their acting and was shot to death.
Hate Crimes Against Christians Up 25%
November 26, 2009, United StatesNew FBI statistics on hate crimes show a nine percent increase in crimes against religious groups in 2008 and an almost 25 percent increase in reported hate crimes against Catholics.
Boys Knifed and Beaten as They Offer Christian Flyers
November 12, 2009, United KingdomPolice investigating the brutal assault of two teenage boys in Canterbury in November who say they may have been attacked because they were delivering Christian leaflets.
Orthodox Priest Beaten
October 30, 2009, GermanyAleksejs Ribakovs, Orthodox Priest, was beaten and forced to move to another city to protect his family. One of the suspects was caught and identified as a young Muslim who proclaimed to hate Christians.
Physical Assault Against Catholics
October 10, 2009, Bosnia and HerzegovinaCatholics were stoned while participating to a Mass at the cemetery chapel of Donji Vajuf.
Christian Murdered Because of Faith
July 20, 2009, TurkeyGerman entrepreneur murdered in Istanbul most likely because of hatred towards Christians. CNN-Turk and Agence France Press quote the murderer to have stated in an interrogation that he had aimed at "killing Christians".
Repetitive Violence and Vandalism Against a Church in Toulon
July 1, 2009, FranceThe church of the Sacred-Heart of Toulon has been for the past two years the target of malevolent acts. Urine was found in the baptismal font, a church responsible was seriously assaulted, the tabernacle was vandalized and many thefts and degradation are to be deplored. The church had to be kept closed for several weeks in 2009.
A Priest Threatened And Assaulted In Toul
July 1, 2009, FranceFather Noël became a victim of intimidation and threats in Toul over the course of a year. He finally decided to leave the district of la Croix de Metz in Toul.
Reverend Assaulted After Discussions with Muslims
March 30, 2009, United KingdomA Christian minister was brutally attacked in London by three men who ripped off his cross, stole his Bible and threatened to break his legs. Metropolitan Police treated the case as a ‘faith hate’ assault.
Youth Gang Attacks Church Pastor in Rochdale
February 28, 2009, United KingdomThe pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Rochdale was attacked by a gang of up to 20 youths. Pastor Dennis Rigg and his brother were making preparations in the church building for their father’s funeral when the group attacked the pastor and shouted out abuse relating to their Christian faith.
Oxford Churches Broken Into to ‘Make a Point’ against Church of England
February 24, 2009, United KingdomBetween 15 and 24 February 2009 two churches in the Oxford area were broken into and highly symbolic religious items were desecrated. Local police officers thought the two incidents were linked and were possibly religiously motivated attacks to make a point against the Church of England. In both incidents safes containing communion bread at the churches were forced open, but nothing was stolen in either case. It is estimated that there was £3,000 worth of damage at St James the Great, in West Hanney, and in St Nicholas Church, in East Challow.
(/Scotland) Kirk Minister Battered on Christmas Day
December 25, 2008, United KingdomA Church of Scotland minister was attacked by a gang of youths on Christmas Day. Reverend Gordon MacKenzie was taking a walk when he was jumped on from behind by a trio of youths he had just passed. He was knocked to the ground by blows about the head and body, then kicked and punched as he was lying on the floor. Revd MacKenzie required hospital treatment for a broken nose, a broken tooth and various injuries to the hand, face and body.
(Michigan) Gays Storm Church
November 12, 2008, United StatesA band of about 30 gays stormed a church in Lansing, Michigan. shouting “Jesus was a homo”, etc. The church was vandalized, obscenities were shouted and worshippers were confronted.
Two Jesuit Priests in Moscow Found Brutally Murdered in their Apartment
October 28, 2008, RussiaTwo Jesuit priests were murdered brutally in Moscow. Jesuit Fathers Otto Messmer, 47, and Victor Betancourt, 42, were found dead late Oct. 28 in their Moscow apartment.
Pro Choice Poster Calls for Violence against Catholics and Pro Lifers
September 23, 2008, AustriaPosters were placed illegally all over the city of Salzburg calling for violence against people praying in front of an abortion clinic. The posters displayed a panda kicking Andreas Laun, the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Salzburg. In bold letters the posters stated: “Kick opponents of abortion (off the sidewalk)”.
Franciscan Monks Cruely Beaten
August 28, 2008, ItalyUnidentified hooded men attacked four Franciscan monks in their monastary in Turin. All four were hospitalized.
Vicar Beaten By Youth in ‘Faith Hate’ Attack
May 30, 2008, United KingdomA parish priest was beaten up by three youths who hurled religious abuse during the attack. The assault took place in the churchyard of St Matthew’s Church in Bethnal Green, East London. Reverend Kevin Scully was left with two black eyes and a cut nose, and only escaped more serious injury because a member of the public intervened.
Pro-Life Politician Pelted with Bottles and Eggs
April 2, 2008, ItalyAn Italian pro-life politician was pelted with eggs and bottles during an April 2 campaign appearance in Bologna. At least 15 people were injured.
Church Service Stormed, Pastor Beaten
April 2, 2008, RussiaPentecostal service stormed by perpetrators, pastor beaten, parishioners threatened with pistols held to their heads.
Socialist Pupils Association Encourages Members to Vandalize Churches
March 20, 2008, AustriaIn a newsletter Austrian "Aktion Kritischer Schüler" (Socialist Pupils Association) encourages members to take the occasion of the international day against racism (March 21st) to vandalize churches.
Anglican Priest Beaten up in 'Faith Hate' Incident
March 17, 2008, United KingdomAnglican priest, Canon Michael Ainsworth, beaten up and insulted in 'faith hate' incident in his own churchyard by Asian youths.
Roman Catholic Priests Beaten and Robbed
January 5, 2008, AustriaIn Austria two individual incidents were reported in January in which a Roman Catholic Parish Priest was attacked, brutally beaten and robbed. It is unknown if the perpetrators picked the priests as victims on grounds of their faith.
Attack on Orthodox Priest Foiled by Police
December 30, 2007, TurkeyAn attack on an Orthodox priest was foiled by Turkish police. The suspect confessed that he had been influenced by the portrayal of Christian missionaries in the TV series “The Valley of the Wolves”, where young Turkish people were depicted as being deceived and bribed for converting to Christianity.
Catholic Priest Attacked and Stabbed
December 17, 2007, TurkeyA Catholic priest was hospitalized Sunday after being stabbed, the latest in a string of attacks on Christians in Turkey. Police said they had detained the suspected attacker.
Sidewalk Counsellors Violently Harrassed
November 27, 2007, AustriaProlife sidewalk counsellors praying in front of an abortion clinic were violently harrassed and sexually assaulted by people allegedly hired by the owner of the clinic, Dr. Christian Fiala, in Vienna, Austria.
Syriac Priest Abducted
November 1, 2007, TurkeyA priest from the Syriac Christian community has been kidnapped in southeast Turkey.
Three Christians, Employees of a Christian Publishing, Tortured, Stabbed and Killed
April 18, 2007, TurkeyThree Christians tortured, stabbed, and killed in Turkey. Four of the five men detained, confessed having committed the crime for nationalist and religious reasons.
Repeated Attacks Against the Orthodox Church in Kosovo
December 31, 2006, KosovoChristian sites, ministres and believers have been targeted by various attacks in Kosovo during the year 2006. Here is a non-exhaustive list of these actions:
Orthodox Priest Was Killed With His Family
December 2, 2006, RussiaThe priest Andrei Nikolaev, his wife and three children have died after their house was set on fire in the village Pryamukhino, Tver region. This was not the first time someone tried to disserve the family or the church. Several months before the accident, the priest informed police and asked for help and protection. He even addressed the media for help but nobody answered. The killer doused the house with gasoline and set on fire.
Catholic School Vandalized in Pozuelo de Alarcon
October 31, 2006, SpainThe Catholic School Monte Tabor was vandalized just a few days before its inauguration in September 2006. Early in the morning, wearing gloves, four youths broke into the school and caused significant damage to the establishment, estimated in the amount of 20,000 Euro. Doors, windows, desks, and chairs were destroyed, and the walls painted with anti-Catholic expressions, as well as attacks to the PP, the PSOE political opponents.
Official Seat of Ecumenical Patriarchate Attacked by Grenade
October 6, 2006, TurkeyThe official seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate suffered an attack in Istanbul on October 6th and was damaged by a grenade.
Woman Beaten Up - Accused of ‘Christianizing’ Muslim Girl
March 8, 2006, TurkeyA Muslim woman was attacked and beaten in her shop. The attacker accused the woman of “Christianizing” his daughter. The perpetrator was arrested and was tried on charges of willful infliction of injury. He was punished with a fine.
Muslim Anti-Christian Protest – Scary Images
March 1, 2006, United KingdomMuslim anti-Christian protest took place in London in front of several European embassies and is portrayed on photos which were taken during a demonstration against the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.
Catholic Priest Shot Dead in Trazbon
February 5, 2006, TurkeyIn the northern city of Trabzon, a 61-year-old Catholic priest was shot dead while praying in his church. The 16-year-old perpetrator, who was arrested shortly after the shooting, shouted a religious slogan to justify his actions, and allegedly made a confession to the police that indicated the religious motivation behind the attack. The killing was strongly and publicly condemned by the government, including by the interior minister.
Several Cases of Discrimination of and Violence against Christians
January 1, 2006, Turkey(2000-2006) Several instances recorded. Christians faced violence including murders, threats, vandalisations and administrational difficulties.
(Internet) Video Glorifies Violence Against Christians
December 1, 2005, InternationalAnimated video glorifies violence against pro-life Christians on Planned Parenthood website.
Converts to Christianity Assaulted
February 1, 2005, United KingdomConvert family from Islam to Christianity assaulted in Bradford.
Christian Minority Rights Threatened
January 1, 2003, Kosovo(2000-2003) Christian minority rights are at stake in Kosovo. Churches were attacked and destroyed. The denial of Jesus was demanded from youth at gunpoint.
Religious Sister Cruelly Murdered in Satanic Ritual
June 6, 2000, ItalyIn the night of June 6th, 2000 in the Italian town of Chiavenna in the Lombardy, Sister Maria Laura Mainetti was murdered by three teenage girls in a ritual act of satanism.
Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias in Cyprus Savagely Bombed by Turkish Air Force
July 9, 1974, CyprusThe Monastery of the Prophet Elias of Maronite Monks, situated near the village of Ayia Marina Skyllouras, in the Nicosia district in Cyprus, was bombed during the second phase of the Turkish invasion. The Turkish air force savagely attacked the religious building which caught fire and was badly damaged.
Clergy Advised to Remove Roman Colar for Safety
January 1, 1970, United KingdomMembers of the clergy were advised to take off their Roman collars when they are on their own, to reduce the risk of being attacked. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury should remove the collar outside church.
Women At Pro Life Manifestation Attacked
January 1, 1970, PolandMale pro-abortion protesters physically attacked several pro-life women during a rally on March 10 in Warsaw, pushing and kicking them. The pro-lifers were part of the organization Fundacja Pro and were carrying a controversial banner of a woman who died during an abortion.
Various Cases of Thefts from Different Churches in the United Kingdom
January 0, 0000, United KingdomA perpetrator stole the charity box from St. John’ church project, Shildon Alive. Other equipment such as video camera and items worth about £560 were stolen from Angelican church All Saints’. A burglar broke into Preston church and stole money intended to help asylum seekers and vulnerable people. At the Pentecostal Church on St John’s Road, a thief stole two wheels from a church minibus. Police are looking for witnesses and clues. Some thieves stole cash from St.Mirin’s Cathedral. Police are appealing for witnesses. Cash and tin have also been stolen from St.Brynach’s church. Seven lawn mowers have been stolen from St John the Baptist Church, in Farnham Road. Three men from the West Midlands admitted theft over 30 churches in different parts of the country, including Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Church of Little Massingham Church has also been a victim of theft.
Church Windows of St. Aloysius Church in Iserlohn Smashed
January 0, 0000, GermanyOn April 7 two windows of St. Aloysius Church in Iserlohn were broken. The perpetrator, who could not be identified, also smashed a memorial candle.