All cases
Amnesty International UK withdraws report that branded Christian groups 'anti-rights'
July 13, 2026, United KingdomAmnesty International UK has withdrawn and expressed "regret" over a report that drew criticism for labelling dozens of Christian and pro-life organisations—including the Christian Institute, the Evangelical Alliance UK, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales—as “anti-rights”.
Päivi Räsänen Denied UK Transit Authorisation Following Finnish Conviction
July 12, 2026, United KingdomFinnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen announced that the United Kingdom had withdrawn her Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), preventing her from transiting through London Heathrow Airport on her return from the United States, supposedly linked to her recent conviction for "hate speech" by the Finnish Supreme Court. Although her ETA had initially been approved, it was revoked shortly before her departure.
Attempted Intrusion and Arson at the Notre-Dame Church of Le Relecq-Kerhuon
July 10, 2026, FranceOn the night of 9 to 10 July 2026, the Notre-Dame Church in Relecq-Kerhuon was the target of a fire and attempted break-in throughout the night. The fire was extinguished before it could spread to the whole church building, but the incident nonetheless affected the Christian place of worship and is being investigated by the police.
Crucifix vandalised in Stolberg-Zweifall
July 10, 2026, GermanyAs reported on 10 July, a wayside cross at the "Kartoffelbaum" site in Stolberg-Zweifall has been deliberately damaged, with parts of the wooden corpus having been cut off. As the vandalism targeted a religious monument in the area that serves as a place of prayer and remembrance for pilgrims, the incident has caused deep distress for the local community.
Zagreb Reported for Religious Discrimination After Preventing Red Wednesday Commemoration
July 9, 2026, CroatiaOn 9 July 2026, the Croatian Protestant Conference reported the City of Zagreb to the Ombudswoman for religious discrimination after the authorities’ prolonged failure to decide on its request to commemorate persecuted Christians through a Red Wednesday projection on the Zagreb fountains. The city remained silent even after a national ministry ordered it to issue a decision within 15 days, forcing the organisers to cancel the event. A subsequent parking decision obstructing the entrance to the Conference’s office and a Protestant place of worship raised further concerns about the city’s treatment of the Christian organisation.
Church banner destroyed in Hohenwarthe
July 8, 2026, GermanyAs reported on 8 July, a banner at a lutheran church of Möser in Hohenwarthe has been cut up and destroyed in an act of vandalism. According to reports, the church congregation suspects the vandalism was politically motivated and is horrified by the incident.
Desecration of Armenian cemetery in Istanbul
July 8, 2026, TurkeyOn the night of 7 to 8 July 2026, an individual entered the Surp Karabet Christian Cemetery in Istanbul by climbing over the perimeter wall. The perpetrator vandalised six graves and a memorial just days before the reconsecration of the Armenian Surp Karapet Church. The reports describe the Christian community as deeply wounded by the incident, and their concerns over the safety of Christian communities in Turkey have been heightened.
Church vandalised and attempted desecration in Ca' Cappellino
July 7, 2026, ItalyReported on 7 July, unknown perpetrators vandalised the church in Ca' Cappellino, Porto Viro, causing extensive damage to liturgical furnishings and attempting to force open the tabernacle. Nothing was stolen, but the vandalism left the church damaged. The attack caused shock among the parish community and is under police investigation.
Attempted Arson damages chapel in southern Germany
July 7, 2026, GermanyIt was reported on 7 July 2026 that an unknown perpetrator deliberately set fire to seat cushions in a chapel in Wolfegg-Molpertshaus, Baden-Württemberg, causing approximately €1000 in damage. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the rest of the church building, and the incident is being investigated as an attempted arson.
Woman arrested for repeated acts of vandalism targeting a church and cemetery
July 7, 2026, FranceOn 7 July 2026, a woman in Écommoy was arrested for the second time in connection with a series of vandalism incidents, including damage to Christian religious objects inside a church and desecration of approximately 30 graves in a cemetery. The repeated targeting of Christian places of worship has caused concern in the local community.
Church of Sts Peter and Paul Vandalised and Tabernacle desecrated
July 6, 2026, FranceOn the night of 5 to 6 July, unknown perpetrators entered Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul Church in the Wazemmes district of Lille and committed vandalism and sacrilegious theft. According to reports, the tabernacle, containing consecrated hosts, was stolen along with the sacred contents. Further, a cross and several religious objects were damaged and the interior of the church was also found to be vandalised. This act was lamented by the diocese as an offence against the sacred, the faithful and priests of the community.
Military school accused of discriminating against applicants from Catholic schools
July 6, 2026, FranceParents and education associations have raised the issue of discrimination against applicants from independent Catholic schools at the Prytanée National Militaire de La Flèche in France, after a Parcoursup admissions notice listed attendance at a non-contract school as an exclusion criterion. The allegations prompted legal action by affected families and an administrative investigation ordered by the Ministry of the Armed Forces, which instructed the school to remove what it described as the "erroneous" admission criterion.
Suspected arson at St. John the Baptist Church prompt surveillance
July 5, 2026, GermanyRepeated suspected arson incidents at St. John the Baptist Church in Ichenhausen, Germany, have prompted the installation of a surveillance camera in an effort to identify or deter the perpetrator. According to the parish priest, several small fires were deliberately started inside the church over a period of weeks, causing minor fire damage.
Police Intervention Against Christian Praying and Holing Bible at Brandenburg Gate
July 3, 2026, GermanyA video recorded at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate raises concerns about interference with the right to freely manifest one's religion after police officers told a Christian he could not pray at the site because it was "not a place for praying" and "not a church". Although the Christian was quietly reading from his Bible and praying without using amplification or engaging passers-by, officers treated his conduct as a demonstration because he was publicly holding a Bible. The incident raises questions about the understanding of religious freedom among law enforcement officers and the protection of peaceful religious expression in public spaces.
Saint-Pancrace Chapel targeted in act of vandalism and attempted arson
July 3, 2026, FranceOn 3 July, Saint-Pancrace Chapel in La Palme was targeted in an attempted arson attack accompanied by acts of vandalism. Although the fire did not spread to the historic chapel, the incident caused damage to the place of worship.
Consecrated hosts and sacred vessels stolen from Sacri Cuori Church in Fermo
July 1, 2026, ItalyA profanation was discovered at the Church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Fermo. Sacred vessels were stolen, the tabernacle was profaned, and consecrated hosts were removed together with the pyx in which they were kept. The incident affected the local Catholic community and prompted the archbishop to call for acts of reparation and a Mass of reparation.
Catholic religion teacher in Belgium receives threats after conversion from Islam
June 30, 2026, BelgiumIn June 2026, Ahmed Yetrib, a Catholic religion teacher in the Charleroi region and convert from Islam to the Catholic faith, reported receiving threats on social media because of his online content sharing the reasons for his conversion. The report concerns alleged harassment which has caused concern for his personal safety, further highlighting the difficulties experienced by individuals converting from Islam to Christianity.
Vandalism and Attempted Arson inside St. Marien Church in Freudenberg
June 29, 2026, GermanyOn 29 June 2026, unknown perpetrators set fire to a wooden bench inside St. Marien Church in Freudenberg and and vandalised the church entrance. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Tabernacle destroyed and consecrated hosts discarded at Sacré-Cœur Church in Geneva
June 29, 2026, SwitzerlandOn 29 June 2026, the tabernacle of Sacré-Cœur Church in Geneva was stolen and destroyed in an act of sacrilegious theft and desecration. The tabernacle contained consecrated hosts and liturgical vessels, the former of which were later found discarded in a nearby construction dumpster. The incident prompted the celebration of a Mass of reparation for the affected Catholic community.
Attempted Arson at the Church of Saint-Jean de Castelsarrasin
June 29, 2026, FranceOn the evening of 29 June, there was an arson attempt targeting the church of Saint-Jean de Castelsarrasin. The fire was discovered by a volunteer in a trash can inside the building. Thankfully, no material damage was caused. Police opened an investigation into the incident.