All cases
ECtHR Questions Spain over Ban on Christian Father Sharing Faith with His Son
June 11, 2026, SpainOn 11 June 2026, the European Court of Human Rights communicated the application of an evangelical father prohibited by Spanish courts from taking his son to church, reading the Bible with him or otherwise sharing his faith until the child reaches twelve. The ECtHR has asked Spain whether state religious neutrality can be extended to parents inside their own homes and whether the restrictions were imposed without evidence that the father’s religious practices had harmed the child.
European Court of Human Rights Upholds Right to Door-to-Door Religious Outreach
June 9, 2026, BulgariaOn 9 June 2026, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Bulgaria violated the right to freedom of religion by upholding a municipal ban on door-to-door religious outreach in the city of Shumen. The Court found that the measure amounted to a disproportionate restriction on religious freedom because it broadly prohibited religious evangelisation at residents’ homes without sufficient justification. The judgment reaffirms that peaceful missionary activity is protected under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Arson Incident at St. Peter’s Church in Lommel Following Repeated Vandalism
June 8, 2026, BelgiumUnknown perpetrators deliberately set fire to the fabric upholstery of a church bench inside St. Peter’s Church (Sint-Pietersbandenkerk) in Lommel, Belgium, on 8 June 2026. Church officials stated that the incident was the latest in a number of recent vandalism and fire-related incidents affecting the church.
Young Man Arrested After Desecrating Church and Damaging Sacred Property
June 8, 2026, PolandA young man was arrested after entering the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Łubów, where he committed acts of desecration and damaged religious objects near the altar and confessional.
Elderly parishioner assaulted and robbed inside Cathedral in Saint-Étienne
June 8, 2026, FranceOn 9 June, a 78-year-old parishioner was violently assaulted inside Saint-Charles Cathedral in Saint-Étienne while reading notices in the entrance hall. The assailant forcibly stole her necklace before fleeing the scene. The attack left the victim severely shocked, prompting a police investigation and strong reactions from the diocese which condemned the assault on the elderly worshipper inside the church.
Christian Pro-Life Volunteers Face Repeated Arrests Near Dutch Abortion Clinics
June 8, 2026, NetherlandsReports published on 8 June 2026 documented repeated arrests and location restrictions affecting volunteers from Kies Leven (Choose Life), a Christian pro-life organisation offering information and support outside abortion clinics in the Netherlands. While authorities have cited municipal regulations, access and public order, an official parliamentary response clarified that one-person actions are protected by freedom of expression and, although municipalities may regulate them, restrictions must not be based on the content of their message.
Suspected arson at new Syrian Orthodox church under construction in Leimen
June 7, 2026, GermanyPolice in Leimen, Germany, are investigating suspected arson after a fire was deliberately set inside the shell of a new Syrian Orthodox church. The blaze, which produced flames several metres high, was extinguished before it could cause major damage to the building.
Catholic Prayer Disrupted in Poissy Amid Shouting of Anti-Christian and Islamist Slogans
June 6, 2026, FranceA Catholic prayer gathering at the Church of Saint-Louis de Beauregard in Poissy was disrupted by individuals shouting slogans, including “Allahu Akbar” and direct insults against Christians, prompting concern among the parishioners.
Series of Thefts targeting Religious Painting and Statue
June 5, 2026, ItalyAn altar canvas depicting the Virgin Mary was stolen from the Church of Santa Lucia in Minervino di Lecce, Italy. Authorities and local reports indicate the theft may be linked to a recent similar incident in a nearby town involving the theft of a religious statue. The local community described the act as an "offence to our devotion".
Attempted Arson Inside St. Michael’s City Church in Jena
June 5, 2026, GermanyA 45-year-old man attempted to set fire to the altar and baptismal font inside St. Michael’s City Church in Jena, Germany, using lamp oil. The fire was quickly extinguished by those present, preventing major destruction, while police continue to investigate the incident as attempted arson.