All cases
Man Smashes Religious Artefacts in Glasgow
February 10, 2026, United KingdomA man armed with tools entered St Alphonsus RC Church in Glasgow and smashed its gift shop, destroying religious artefacts and causing an estimated £1,500 in damage. A church spokesperson warned that this act of violence amounted to desecration and was more severe than previous incidents.
Minors Start Fires on Church Altar in Hof
February 9, 2026, GermanyPolice identified two minors who ignited objects inside, including an altar cloth, Marienkirche in Hof on two separate occasions.
Insulting Messages at Parish House
February 8, 2026, GermanyUnknown individuals defaced the community house of St John the Baptist Church in Nauort with coloured graffiti and insulting messages, leading police to seek witnesses.
Parish Priest Reports Reocurring Incidents Of Vandalism
February 5, 2026, GermanyIn the Allgäu region of southern Germany, parish priests have reported recurring incidents of vandalism, theft, and disruptive behaviour in churches, raising concerns about declining respect for places of worship. The reports point to a pattern of repeated disturbances rather than a single isolated incident.
Church in Poznan Vandalised with Threatening Graffiti
February 5, 2026, PolandUnknown individuals vandalised the exterior of a Roman Catholic church in the Stare Żegrze district of Poznań with threatening graffiti and satanic symbols, including the message “this church will burn.” The incident caused distress within the parish and was reported to the police.
Priest Stopped Arson Attack On Church
February 5, 2026, SwedenA priest prevented an attempted arson incident at a Catholic church in southern Stockholm after discovering the situation at an early stage. Surveillance footage showed an individual attempting to set fire to the church building.
Vandalism and Theft Target Parish Patronage in Mestre
February 5, 2026, ItalyThe patronage of the Church of Santa Maria di Lourdes in Venice has been repeatedly affected by vandalism, theft attempts and intrusions, prompting the parish priest to install protective fencing at the entrance. The incidents were reported in early February 2026 following a series of disturbances around the parish facilities.
ECtHR takes up Turkey’s bans on Christians based on religion
February 5, 2026, TurkeyThe European Court of Human Rights has formally taken up 20 cases of Christians banned from Türkiye solely for practicing their faith. Turkish authorities applied internal security codes to classify long-term, peaceful Christian residents as “threats to national security”, despite no criminal conduct. These measures constitute targeted religious discrimination and violate key protections under the European Convention, including freedom of religion and prohibition of discrimination.
Slogan calling for churches to burn displayed during pro-abortion demonstration in Hamm
February 5, 2026, GermanyDuring a demonstration in Hamm, protestors displayed offensive slogans and incitement to violent action against Christians churches, including a banner stating: “The only church that enlightens is the one that burns.” The protest took place in the context of a legal dispute concerning abortion restrictions at a Catholic hospital.
Two Fires Set Inside Saint-Nicolas-de-Port Basilica
February 4, 2026, FranceTwo small fires were deliberately started inside the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port in Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, on 4 February 2026, prompting the evacuation of the historic Catholic church. The fires were quickly extinguished by a volunteer and firefighters.