All cases
European Bishops Urge Action to Protect Religious Freedom as Attacks Increase Globally
July 20, 2021, BelgiumEuropean 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, FrancePolice 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
Repeated Arson Attacks against Church in Pont-de-Vaux
July 19, 2021, FranceIn the course of 72 hours, french authorities were called two times because of a suspected arson inside a church in Pont-de-Vaux. Thanks to the quick interference of the authorities the fires were extinguished without causing much damage. It is suspected that both fires have been deliberately set by currently unknown perpetrators. The church is under surveillance and the police are investigating.
Unknown Perpetrators Vandalise and Desecrated Cross at Church in Vaguines
July 18, 2021, FranceUnknown perpetrators have desecrated a cross at the church of Vaguines. The incident is thought to have taken place sometime overnight from 18 to 19 July. The perpetrators have spray painted the cross in pink and wrote "Jesus son 2 rape" onto the church wall. Police are investigating since the case has been reported by the town's authorities.
Blackpool Transport Has to Apologise and Pay Reparations for Discriminating against Christian Event Organizers, Court Rules
July 16, 2021, United KingdomAfter a court ruling, council owned Blackpool Transport has now agreed to pay £109,000 in damages caused to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for banning adverts for an event organised by the same. The public transportation company banned the advertisements after evangelist Franklin Graham, who was an invited guest speaker at the Festival of Hope event, commented upon Islam and homosexuality. Additionally, the transport company offered a public apology and have now implemented clear policies regarding adverts. Franklin Graham is "grateful to God" for this outcome.
Repeated Vandalism in Bad Rappenau Church
July 16, 2021, GermanyAn unknown intruder knocked the candle off the altar of the Bad Rappenau church and caused other damage on July 7th. Pastor Joachim Bollow, labeled the damage as extreme, which amounted to about 1000 euros in financial costs. There was a similar incident in March.
Update: Christian School Worker Fired for Facebook Post Allowed to Appeal
July 15, 2021, United Kingdom45-year-old Christian, Kristie Higgs, was fired from her job in 2020 for posting concerns about LGBT+ ideology being implemented in her son's school. The anonymous complaint leading to her being fired stated her post was "homophobic and prejudiced". Mrs Higgs posted the post on her private Facebook page only visible to her family and friends. In an Employment Appeal Tribunal, His Honour Judge (HHJ) Taylor ruled in favour of Mrs Higgs stating: “This appeal potentially raises important issues on the approach to be adopted by the Tribunals to manifestation and expression of beliefs”. Higgs has now appealed her case which will be heard starting on the 27th of February.
Law Allowing Employers to Ban Religious Symbols at Workplace in Germany Confirmed by European Court of Justice
July 15, 2021, European Institutions (EU, ECHR, et.al.)The EU's European Court of Justice ruled that employers are allowed to ban visible religious symbols from their businesses, i.e. they are allowed to forbid their employees to wear crosses and headscarves. In its ruling, the Luxembourg-based tribunal stated its member states should weigh up if the ban corresponded to a "genuine need" on the part of the employer, especially since it potentially interferes with the employees' rights to freedom of religion. The case came to court after two Islamic-identifying women in Germany filed legal complaints against their workplaces for interfering with their beliefs. Subsequently, the case was brought in front of the European Court of Justice ruling on the legitimacy of the national legislation.
Spanish Medical Body Fears for the Freedom of Conscience
July 14, 2021, Spain“Unacceptable, illegal, and unjust”, that is how a body representing Spain's medical colleges referred to the threat to conscientious objection on abortion made by the states government minister's. In the sight of the adoption of the Matic report, Spain's Equality Minister Irene Montero declared that “the right of physicians to conscientious objection cannot be above women’s right to decide”. Montero requested the General Council of Official Medical Colleges (GCGOM) to respond to her proposed changes. GCGOM, is the governing body representing 52 local medical colleges, on 12 July, they published a statement defending the right to conscientious objection.
Church Vandalised and Almost Set on Fire in Bollengo
July 14, 2021, ItalyUnknown perpetrators tried to set fire to the Romanesque church of Santissimi Pietro e Paolo in Bollengo. Mayor Luigi Ricca noted that the police "found traces of flammable liquid in the churchyard. The same group then broke one of the road signs indicating the route of the Via Francigena in the area". Since the modus operandi is similar to the case of church vandalism at the San Silvestro church in Chiaverano from June 2021, the police are suspecting the same group to be responsible. However, Mayor Ricca does not think that it is the same group. Investigations are ongoing.
Church in Grüfflingen Desecrated by Vandals
July 13, 2021, BelgiumCurrently unknown perpetrators desecrated a church in Grüfflingen. The incident happened sometime between 13 to 14 July. It had been reported that the culprits desecrated the church walls and the labelling close to the church. The police are investigating.
Desecration of Statue of Virgin Mary in Bayeux
July 13, 2021, FranceDuring the night of 5 to 6 July, currently unknown perpetrators decapitated the statue of the Virgin Mary in Bayeux. The statue is located near the Augustines chapel in Bayeux and had already fallen victim to other acts of vandalism. In 2013 a young man decapitated the statue, while in 2017, the head of the statue was covered in black paint. Although the police managed to recover the head of the statue nearby, the search for the culprit continues.
Historic Relic Stolen from Church in Blaye
July 13, 2021, FranceUnknown perpetrators stole a relic from the church in Blaye. The perpetrators stole a fragment of a rib belonging to Saint Romain, a Gallo-Roman priest who lived in the 4th century, making the rib 1,800 years old. Additionally to the rib, a silver case, containing the rib, has also been taken. The parish and the association for the protection of the church have filed a complaint with the local authorities. They are currently investigating the case.
Man Detained After Desecrating Church in Istanbul
July 12, 2021, TurkeyThe Surp Takavor Armenian Church in Istanbul has been desecrated. A 14-second video appeared on social media showing three men dancing next to a stone cross atop the church's courtyard gate. It is thought to have happened on 10 July, as the video was released on the evening of 11 July. Turkish authorities detained the three suspects on 12 July, while they were in their homes. An investigation is underway.
Church in Białystok Vandalised by Woman
July 12, 2021, PolandA 64- year old woman is the main suspect in the case of vandalism and theft from the Saint Adalbert's Church in Białystok. On CCTV footage the woman is seen tearing off a statue of Jesus Christ from the church wall and throwing it into a waste bin. The incident happened on 12 June right before the morning mass at 6.30 a.m. Parish priest father Jan Wierzbicki noticed the theft after a trace of glue remained on the plastered wall, where statue once hung. The police managed to recover the torn off statue and als caught the culprit. a 64-year old woman. She is now being charged with insulting religious feelings. The reasons for the act of vandalism are still unknown.
Perpetrators Sawed Off the Wooden Cross in the Unnau Forest Church
July 12, 2021, GermanyOn the 7th of December, the several meters high wooden cross of the Waldkirche church was sawn off by unknown people. Pastor Christof Schmidt and the parish were shocked by this act. The Pastor stated "We are very concerned about this. For us, it feels like an attack on our community because we appreciate this place very much and we like to come here often. We don't know whether the perpetrator wanted to position himself against the Protestant Church or our parish or Christianity or perhaps acted thoughtlessly". The case was reported to the police and the Pastor added that the cut did not look very professional, which might give some indication of who did it.
Attempted Arson in Church in Déols
July 11, 2021, FranceUnknown perpetrators are said to have started a fire on 11 June, at the parish church of Saint-Etienne de Déols. The incident must have happened sometime between 3 and 4 p.m. when the church was open to the public. The fire was discovered by visitors to the church, who immediately informed the police and the fire brigade. Little damage was caused thanks to their quick intervention. A special team of investigators are on the case.
Vandalism and Theft at Church in Henstedt-Ulzburg
July 11, 2021, GermanyUnknown perpetrators entered the church in Henstedt-Ulzburg in Segeberg. The incident happened sometime between Sunday (11 July) afternoon and Monday (12 July) morning. Once inside the church, they broke several doors and took every money they could find. The perpetrators caused an estimated damage of 2500 Euros, excluding the stolen money. Police reconstructed the incident, leading them to believe the culprits gained access through a terrace door. The public is asked to forward any information to the local police station in Norderstedt.
Christian MP Jacob Rees-Mogg Attacked on Twitter
July 10, 2021, United KingdomTwitter allowed politician James Dornan to personally attack his Christian colleague MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. After high profile conservative Mr Rees-Mogg tweeted a video about the upcoming Nationality and Borders Bill, Mr Dornan responded stating: "Hope you remember this the next time you go to confession. You and your cronies are already responsible for the deaths of thousands and you're now happy to see the most desperate people in the world suffer and drown. If your god exists you will undoubtedly rot in hell." Consequently, the post was reported to the Standards Commission for Scotland. The conservative party is now asking for an apology.
Sacristy of Saint-Vaast church in Moreuil Vandalised
July 9, 2021, FranceOn 9 July unknown perpetrator(s) vandalised the sacristy of the Saint-Vaast church in Moreuil. The incident must have happened after 7 p.m. A parishioner noticed the damage done to the sacristy the following morning. It has been reported that the perpetrator broke the door to the sacristy courtyard and a window to the sacristy. The incident was reported to the police, who are investigating the case.