All cases

Molotov cocktail thrown against the church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs

January 18, 2023, France

There have been multiple cases in France, where churches have been targeted for hate crimes, theft or vandalism. The newest incident happened on January 18 near Paris, where the church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs and its front door and facade were partially burned. An unknown perpetrator has thrown an incendiary device, which was reported to be a molotov cocktail, against the front door at around five o'clock in the morning.

Two Arson Attacks on Parisian Church Notre-Dame-de-Fatima

January 17, 2023, France

On the 17th and the 22nd of January, the church of Notre-Dame-de-Fatima, the 19th district of Paris, was hit twice by unknown arsonists. The Newspaper "Le Parisien" reported that the door of the church was sprayed with a flammable liquid. Then, the perpetrators used newspapers to start a fire, which fortunately did not spread inside the building.

Wall of Aya Yorgi Church graffitied with "Islam is the only way"

January 16, 2023, Turkey

According to Mesopotamia Agency, an unknown perpetrator wrote "Islam is the only way" on the walls of the church's garden. The search for the suspect continues. The Aya Yorgi church was built in 1836 by Nicholas the Cross and is located in the Edirnekapı district of Istanbul.

Christian Receives Jail Sentence for Refusing Military Service on Conscientious Grounds

January 16, 2023, Ukraine

On the 16th of January, 46-year-old Vitaly Alekseenko was given a one-year jail term for refusing the call to the military on conscientious grounds. The Ivano-Frankivsk Appeal Court rejected his appeal against his conviction and has sentenced him to jail starting on the 19th of January. Alekseenko is the fifth known case of court conviction due to conscientious objection, but he is the first one to receive a jail sentence. Alekseenko told Forum 18 that he is "not guilty under the law of God".

Frequent church thefts in Wysowa-Zdroj

January 13, 2023, Poland

In a small village in Poland, there has been a series of thefts from churches, and the police have not yet been able to identify the perpetrators.

Priest in Newry devastated his church had six windows and four bathrooms destroyed

January 13, 2023, Ireland

Near the city of Newry, vandalism occurred at a church on January 13 during the night. The perpetrator broke six windows and four bathrooms that were outside the Church of the Sacred Heart. Father Richard Naughton commented that he was "shocked to the core" and vandalism like this had never happened before. The cost for the reparation of the windows was estimated at thousand pounds. The perpetrator is still on the run. The police department has asked for witnesses to contact them as soon as possible.

Stained Glass Windows Smashed at Church in Cloughoge

January 13, 2023, United Kingdom

The Church of the Sacred Heart in Cloughoge was vandalised overnight between January 12 and 13. Police received a report around 9 AM on January 13 that six windows of the church and four outside toilets had been smashed overnight. The stained glass windows require specialist repair which is expected to cost many thousand pounds.

Street Preacher in Scotland wins Case After Being Wrongfully arrested for alleged "Hate Speech"

January 13, 2023, United Kingdom

Mr Angus Cameron, the Pastor of Cumnock Baptist Church, has now received £5,500 for his unlawful detention by the Police, as well as £9,400 for the legal costs. Mr Cameron decided to donate all of his compensation to The Christian Institute, an NGO that supported him throughout this legal case. Mr Cameron was handcuffed and arrested by the police back in 2020, for "breach of the peace with homophobic aggravation". He was contacted by the police a few days later and told that he would not be prosecuted, but a non-crime hate incident had been filed. Mr Cameron then sought assistance from the Christian Institute.

Disruption of church service in Warsaw

January 13, 2023, Poland

On January 13, 2023, three drunk men disrupted the celebration of evening mass in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles in Warsaw. According to eyewitnesses, they entered the church during the service and began cursing and screaming.

Devastation of a shrine in Noskowo

January 12, 2023, Poland

On January 12, 2023, local media reported the destruction of the shrine of Mary in Noskowo. Unknown perpetrators tore off and broke the crown on the head of the statue of Mary, and also tore off and abandoned a metal cross on the lawn around the chapel.