New PACE Motion Highlights Rise in Anti-Christian Hate Crimes

Posted on: June 24, 2026

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A new motion for a resolution submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) calls for renewed European action to address hate crimes, intolerance and discrimination against Christians. The motion, tabled on 24 June 2026 and signed by 28 parliamentarians from 17 European countries and three political groups, draws prominently on OIDAC Europe’s research to document the rise in anti-Christian hate crimes across Europe.

Entitled “Hate crimes, intolerance and discrimination against Christians in Europe,” the motion points to a deterioration in the situation since PACE last addressed the issue in 2019. As evidence, the parliamentarians cite OIDAC Europe’s 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes documented in Europe in 2024, including 274 personal attacks against Christians. They also draw attention to the increase in attacks against places of worship, noting that 94 arson attacks were recorded in 2024, almost twice as many as in 2023.

The motion stresses that such incidents affect both the physical security of Christians and their ability to exercise fundamental freedoms. It points in particular to increasing “vandalism, desecration, and arson attacks on churches” and argues that protecting Christian communities and religious sites is essential to safeguarding freedom of religion or belief.

Against this background, the signatories call on the Parliamentary Assembly to examine the situation and propose further action. In particular, the motion asks PACE to consider “a common strategy among member States to prevent intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes against Christians, including online”, as well as measures to “raise public awareness and promote dialogue and tolerance.”

The motion represents an important recognition of the growing evidence on anti-Christian hate crime in Europe and demonstrates how systematic monitoring and documentation can help bring an often-overlooked human rights issue onto the agenda of European institutions.

The motion has not yet been debated or adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly and, at this stage, formally commits only its signatories.

Source: PACE Doc. 16447