All cases

Council of State in France Rejects the 30-Person Limit For Religious Celebrations

November 29, 2020, France

On November 29th, the Council of State in Francerejects the 30-person limit for religious celebrations. The government's restriction was found to be "disproportionate". In the next three days a new system must be implemented that is more in line with the right to freedom of religion and worship.

Graffiti in a Staircase in Vienna Calls Out To Murder Christians and Glorifies Islamist Terror Attack

November 28, 2020, Austria

On November 28th, unknown perpetrators tagged a staircase of a Viennese municipal building with threats. The words "Death to Christians", "the house will soon belong to us and than the whole world" and glorifications of the Islamist terror attack in Vienna were smeared on the walls. Moreover, the graffitis said: May "Allah" have "mercy" on the 20-year-old assassin who murdered four people on November 2nd. The police was informed and a complaint was filed. The LVT (State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Fight against Terrorism) has started investigations.

Church Defenders Attacked by Pro-Abortion Demonstrators

November 28, 2020, Poland

On the 28 of November 2020, during the demonstration of pro-abortion groups in Cracow, a direct attack was made on a group of members of the Self- Defense of the Faithful organization of Lesser Poland. They had decided to protect the local churches from pro-abortion demonstrators who may want to stick posters on the churches, which was attempted, or otherwise harm the churches. Around 14:00, those defending the churches were violently attacked with pepper spray and other objects.

Paint Attack On Pro Femina in Munich

November 26, 2020, Germany

On November 26th the Pro Femina consulting center in Munich was the target of a paint attack. After the growing political pressure on Pro Femina in the last few weeks, the office building was smeared with pink paint. On the opposite side of the street, posters were hung up with the slogans: "Decriminalize abortion", "My body, my choice" or "Kill fetuses". The police have been informed and a criminal complaint has been filed.

Search Warrant for Publicly Displaying Prints of Bible Verses Found Unlawful by Court

November 25, 2020, Germany

Young-Ai Park was publicly displaying prints of Bible verses on the walls of her restaurant in Berlin. She was accused of "hate speech" and subjected to a police search and a fine. On November 25th a court in Berlin has upheld the restaurants owner's right to freedom of religion and speech and found the search warrant issued by the district court unlawful.

'Burn the Clergy' Hashtag Tolerated By Twitter Spain

November 25, 2020, Spain

On November 24th, Pope Francis beatified 127 Catholics who were killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in the 20th century. At the same time the hashtag demanding Catholic priests to be burned alive became a trend on Twitter. Tweets with the hashtag #FuegoAlClero, which means "Burn the Clergy" were permitted by Twitter. Some of those tweets included pictures of priests with their heads in flames and others labeled priests as "pedophiles" and "thieves". Although Twitter's current user policy states that the promotion of violence on the basis of religious affiliation is not allowed, these pictures of priests in flames were not removed until the 25th of November.

Pastor in Germany Sentenced For Hate Speech

November 25, 2020, Germany

On November 25th, the Bremen District Court sentenced the protestant Pastor Olaf Latzel for hate speech. He had made several strongly derogatory statements about homosexuality based on his understanding of the Bible, for which he repeatedly apologised. The pastor has been sentenced to a fine of 8.100 Euro. According to the court, he had incited hatred against homosexuals and intersexuals. Olaf Latzel announced he will not accept the sentence. His lawyer demands an acquittal.

Vandals Smeared a Cross Near the Church in Valseca

November 25, 2020, Spain

On November 11th, the diocese of Segovia reported an act of vandalism against its heritage. Unknown perpetrators smeared the pedestal of a cross next to the door of the parish in Valseca. This is the third act of vandalism against the ecclesiastical patrimony in the last few days.

Desecration of Consecrated Hosts in a Church in Palermo

November 25, 2020, Italy

On November 25th, a desecration of consecrated hosts took place in a parish in St. Bagheria. The parish priest found the tabernacle broken open and consecrated hosts spread on the ground. The investigations of the Forces of Order are still in progress, in search of those who desecrated the Tabernacle and the hosts, above all to find out more about the motivation and possible bias behind this act. There is a fear that the consecrated hosts, the flesh of Christ for Catholics, is used for Satanic rituals during black masses. This already happened in the past in Sicily.

Defecation Into The Baptismal Font Of St. George's Church

November 24, 2020, Germany

An unknown perpetrator defecated into the baptismal font of the St. George's church in Saerbeck on January 24th. In doing so, the perpetrator had himself photographed by two others who accompanied him, according to the church's surveillance video. After a complaint by the parish, the police is investigating for disturbance of religious peace. The parish is especially shocked, because of the targeted attack, which was not only a disregard of religious feelings.