All cases

Update: Street Preacher Wins Legal Challenge

July 23, 2021, United Kingdom

A court in London ruled in favour of 31-year-old pastor Joshua Sutcliffe. The street preacher was preaching in Camden, North London on Good Friday in April 2020, as he was approached by four police officers, who claimed he is breaching government COVID restrictions and subsequently fined him. "We find the defendant not guilty on all charges. We find that the defendant was outside and that he had a reasonable excuse as he was travelling to his place of work, as a worship leader", ruled the Magistrates Court in London.

Physical Assault to Pro-life Activist, Police Observes Passively

July 23, 2021, United Kingdom

A member of a peaceful pro-life display was punched in the face while standing in the streets of Norwich by a woman who did not agree with the content written on one of the posters. The incident, which happened on the 23. July, did not alarm the police officers. When a police officer was asked for his inaction, he responded that the aggression committed was "proportional" to the one displayed by the pro-life group.

Attempted Arson and Vandalism at Church in Dieulefit

July 23, 2021, France

Acts of vandalism and attempted arson have been committed at the church of Dieulefit. On the morning of 23. July, the mayor, Pierrick Gouronnec, went to the site accompanied by representatives of the parish. The gendarmes came to take the usual samples and noted the damage: candles and enclosure were stolen. In addition, candles were lit on the altar, which could have had serious consequences because they could have caused a fire. This event, which is taken very seriously by the gendarmerie, is currently being investigated, and the church is now under increased surveillance. This is also because the church already fell victim to an arson attack in January of the same year and has been extensively renovated in the last months.

Evangelist Arrested in London for Preaching about Homosexuality and Given Mental Health Evaluation

July 22, 2021, United Kingdom

Ryan Schiavo was arrested in London for preaching on the streets that "homosexuality is a sin" or that "churches that have rainbow flags on them are not real churches". A woman who heard him called the police and some minutes later he was arrested. The incident was recorded by a friend of the street preacher.

Teenager Destroyed Church Crucifix

July 21, 2021, Poland

Adam K., a 17-year-old was charged with destroying a statue of Christ in the Mikołów district during July. He unscrewed the metal cross, which he then used to smash the statue with, and then threw the shards into the field. Despite his claims that he did it because of alcohol intoxication rather than hate for religion, he has been charged with "insulting religious feelings by publicly defacing an object of religious reverence by destroying it."

Repetead Acts of Vandalism in the Protestant Church of Oberfrohna

July 21, 2021, Germany

Extremely often, charges are filed to the police because unknown persons leave damage in the Lutherchurch in Oberfrohna and the Church in Rußdorf. Suspects have already been spotted running away. Christiane Zitzkat, a pastor, commented that the damages happen "every week", and in the summertime more often than in winter.

Crosses Cut Down in Llodio

July 21, 2021, Spain

Crosses on the top of the Goikogane and Alpitsu peaks were cut down on the weekend of the19th of June by unknown attackers. Both crosses, located in the Llodio municipality, were cut off at the base. Bishop Elizalde said, “Attacking it, as someone has done in our land, is an attack against oneself and against all humanity.”

Desecration of Statue of Virgin Mary in Kraplewo

July 20, 2021, Poland

An unknown perpetrator is currently being searched for by polish police. The perpetrator is accused of having desecrated a statue of the Virgin Mary and the destruction of a roadside shrine in Kraplewo near Ostróda. Build in the 1950s the shrine has a cultural and historic meaning for the locals. If identified, the perpetrator is facing up to two years in prison for insulting an object of a religious group or a place intended for the public performance of religious rites.

European Bishops Urge Action to Protect Religious Freedom as Attacks Increase Globally

July 20, 2021, Belgium

European bishops are urging the European Union to ensure religious freedom is protected in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement released by the Commission of Bishops Conference of the European Union, it can be read that “vulnerable religious communities are experiencing discrimination, intolerance and, in some cases, persecution as victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.” The statement followed a meeting of church representatives held on July 15.

Teenagers Accused of Arson at Church in Mauléon-Licharre

July 20, 2021, France

Police arrested two suspects in the case of damaging the church of Saint Jean Baptiste in Mauléon Licharre in the Atlantic Pyrenees. The incident dates back to 7 July. The suspects are accused of having tried to set fire to the church, by lighting songbooks and throwing them into the church. It is thought that in the course of this action, a statue of the Virgin Mary was damaged. Police are investigating