All reports

"They could no longer endure the harassment": An Interview with the Head of the ZOCD Working Group for Refugees

September 9, 2016

In the last few years, many Christians have fled their home countries due to religious persecution — many of them from the cradle of Christianity. For some, life in Germany is not much better than the places they fled: the threat posed by radical Muslims towards Christians followed them to Europe and it is spreading through some refugee homes.

Knights of Columbus Provides Major Report on Genocide of Christians to U.S. State Department

March 9, 2016

The Knights of Columbus urges the United States to join the International Association of Genocide Scholars, 60 UK Parliamentarians, 200+ Members of Congress, Pope Francis, the European Parliament, and many other and recognize the genocide against Christians and other minority groups in Iraq and Syria.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Favor of a Right to Conscientious Objection in the Context of Abortion and Euthanasia

March 8, 2016

Peaceful Protests all over Europe Urging Norway to Return Bodnariu Children to their Parents

January 18, 2016

Online petition has received over 55,000 signatures since November.

US Supreme Court Agrees to Tackle Religious Hostility by States

January 15, 2016

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to take up a case that addresses the question of whether states can exhibit hostility to religion by prohibiting churches and church-run organizations from participating in state programs solely because the groups are religious.

Open Doors Watch List: "Persecution Of Christians Reaches Historic Levels, Conditions Suggest Worst Is Yet To Come"

January 13, 2016

According to the 2015 Open Doors World Watch List, the Middle East Remains Most Violent While Africa Sees Largest Increase in Persecution of Christians.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will publish its 2014 annual report on hate crimes on November 16, 2015

October 26, 2015

The report provides an overview of data collected on hate crimes, and of responses to hate crimes. The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe submitted data, from which cases from 12 countries will be included in the final report which will be available online on November 16, 2015.

Observatory Makes Recommendations at 2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting

October 1, 2015

Observatory Delivers Keynote Address at OSCE

May 18, 2015

At the OSCE Conference CIO.GAL/54/15 "Enhancing efforts to prevent and combat intolerance and discrimination against Christians, focusing on hate crimes, exclusion, marginalisation and denial of rights" in Vienna on May 18, 2015, Dr. Gudrun Kugler, director of the Observatory, delivered a keynote address.

Observatory Submits Report about Austria to UN Human Rights Universal Periodic Review

March 19, 2015

Every few years the UN review each of its members with regard to their human rights situation in the so-called Univeral Periodic Review. The Observatory submitted a report on the violations of religious freedom in Austria. Find here the full report.

Islamist Extremists Main Cause of Aggression Against Christians

March 15, 2015

While Europe is not the region with the highest level of religious hostilities – that remains the Middle East-North Africa region – harassment and attacks against religious minorities continue in many European countries.

UK Equality and Human Rights Commission Finds: Christians Often Scared to Admit Their Beliefs

March 11, 2015

Nearly 2,500 people of all faiths were asked about excercising their religion at work for a nationwide study conducted by the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission. The research was done to investigate visibly growing conflict over Christians’ rights to act in accordance with their religious beliefs. The results are striking: Christians are often scared to admit their beliefs!

Increasing Rate of Thefts and Defamations of the Churches in North Rhine-Westphalia

February 16, 2015

There have been recored 3.500 church burglaries since 2010 in North Rhine-Westphalia. During the past five years in North Rhine-Westphalia 3.504 church burglaries were committed. That indicates that per year, 660 to 790 church burglaries are taking place. 80% of the 785 suspects had German nationality.

French Observatory Releases Anti-Christian Incident Report for France in January 2015

January 31, 2015

36 places of worship or devotion, schools, tombs and Christian websites were documented on L’Observatoire de la Christianophobie for January 2015 in France.

Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly Adopts Resolution Against Intolerance against Christians in Europe

January 29, 2015

On Jan 29, 2015, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted the Resolution: „Tackling intolerance and discrimination in Europe with a special focus on Christians“. The Observatory welcomes the resolution as an important Stepp into the right direction. The resolution was adopted with 67 votes in favour, 2 against and 15 abstentions.

47% of Germans Say Germany is Not Self-Confident Enough With Its Christian Traditions

November 30, 2014

While 30% of the population agree, 67% disagree with the de-Christianisation of religious and cultural traditions. 47% of Germans think that Germany is not self-confident enough with its Christian traditions.

ACN Religious Freedom Report 2014: Germany „Worrying”

November 5, 2014

The international Catholic charity and Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) published a report entitled Religious Freedom in the World Report 2014, which was first presented on November 5th, 2014. Read in the following the Report’s concerns regarding Germany.

ACN Religious Freedom Report 2014: The Netherlands „Worrying”

November 5, 2014

The international Catholic charity and Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) published a report entitled Religious Freedom in the World Report 2014, which was first presented on November 5th, 2014. Read in the following the Report’s concerns regarding The Netherlands.

ACN Religious Freedom Report 2014: France „Worrying”

November 5, 2014

The international Catholic charity and Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) published a report entitled Religious Freedom in the World Report 2014, which was first presented on November 5th, 2014. Read in the following the Report’s concerns regarding France.

ACN Religious Freedom Report 2014: Seven European Countries „Worrying”

November 5, 2014

The international Catholic charity and Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) published a report entitled Religious Freedom in the World Report 2014, which was first presented on November 5th, 2014. The Observatory provided data for the European region to the report. Find here a summary of the key findings, including information on the seven countries, ACN finds worrying in Europe.