All cases
Unjust Stigmatization of Evangelicals in France
March 17, 2020, FranceOn Tuesday 17th March, the Prefect of the Grand Est and the Bas Rhin, Josiane Chevalier, questioned on the France Inter Program the responsibility of the Christian Church Open Door in Mulhouse (Haut Rhin) for the propagation of Covid-19. Her speech offended many evangelicals, who did not accept to be stigmatized by his remarks. She implied that the church meetings were irresponsible, although the last big meeting of Christians happened in February, before the lockdown was announced.
Arson at Historic Church of Saint-Apollinaire
March 16, 2020, FranceOn March 16th, unidentified perpetrators set fire to the church Saint-Apollinaire built in the 12th century in Meximieux in eastern France. The fire was extinguished by local firefighters and police arrested the arsonists, but still the church will be closed to the public until further notice.
Unknown Perpetrators Damaged Protestant Church in Usingen
March 16, 2020, GermanyBetween Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th unknown vandals broke a window on the west side of the Protestant Laurentius church in Usingen. They also damaged two glass doors on the tower portal, but they failed to destroy them completely.
Perpetrator Broke Windows of Oerlinghausen-Helpup Church
March 16, 2020, GermanyIn the night between Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th, an unknown person broke two windows of the church in Oerlinghausen-Helpup. The police are investigating.
Conversion Therapy Now iIlegal In Germany
March 16, 2020, GermanyA new law was proposed from the Christian Democrats in February 2020 that prohibits conversion therapy defined as "all therapy carried out on human beings which are aimed at changing or suppressing sexual orientation of self-perceived gender identity". The law is already in use since June 2020.
Arson in the church of Saint-Apollinaire
March 16, 2020, FranceOn the 18th March, the Church of Saint-Apollinaire in Meximieux was set on fire. The parish priest used the Facebook page of the parish to report the incident. Unknown vandals set fire to the press table at the back of the collegiate church. The parish priest filled a complain and the perpetrators got quickly arrested.
Graffiti Sprayed on Göttschied Church Walls
March 15, 2020, GermanyDuring the night between March 15th and March 16th unknown perpetrators sprayed graffiti on the walls of the Protestant Abteikirche in Göttschied (Idar-Oberstein). Police are investigating
Theft In Protestant Church
March 15, 2020, GermanyOn Sunday March 15th, unknown perpetrators broke into the church in the Breitsitterstraße and broke a window and stole 15 euros and five confirmation candles. The damage amounts to 500 euros.
Armenian Genocide Memorial Desecrated
March 15, 2020, FranceThe Armenian Genocide Memorial in Lyon, consisting of 36 columns with inscriptions of poems from Gostan Zarian, was vandalized with anarchist and anti-Macron slogans. The monument is in memory of the 500 000 Armenians who were murdered by the "Young Turks" government. This criminal act is a serious offense against the victims and the humanity. The Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France called for a surveillance system to prevent any recurrence. The police are investigating and looking for the perpetrators.
Church Set on Fire by 3 Children
March 15, 2020, GermanyAn attentive witness told the police that he discovered a burning flyer on a wooden bench in the church. The witness managed to successfully extinguish it. Three children, aged between 12 and 13 years, are suspected to be the arsonists. They were subsequently handed over to their respective legal guardians. Police Kelheim does not yet have any concrete information about the damage caused.