Hate crimes against Christians and other faith groups remain consistently under-reported and overlooked politically across Europe, it has been warned.
The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe issued the warning to coincide with the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
The organisation cited new findings from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which has just released its Guide on Understanding Anti-Christian Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Christian Communities.
The report is designed to complement earlier OSCE publications on antisemitic and anti-Muslim initiatives to curb hate crimes and urges governments to step up their response.
According to the guide, religion-based hate crimes are too often “downplayed, under-reported or politically overlooked.”
It warns that “anti-Christian hate crimes do not take place in a vacuum,” stressing that political discourse and stereotypes have contributed to an environment in which anti-Christian bias persists.
The Executive Director of OIDAC Europe, Anja Hoffmann, said this year’s commemoration provides a critical moment to confront these challenges: “The daily reality of anti-Christian hate crimes recorded by our organization highlights the urgent need for further research and concrete government action.
"Many European governments still do not adequately record and report these crimes—or worse, they even perpetuate anti-Christian bias.”
The OSCE guide documents a wide spectrum of anti-Christian episodes.
They can begin with seemingly minor acts such as graffiti or vandalism but often escalate into harassment and intimidation.
In more serious cases, individuals face direct threats and physical assaults, and in the most extreme situations, these incidents have even resulted in murder.
It also highlights the heightened risks faced by certain groups, including converts from Muslim backgrounds - particularly women - who may face violent reprisals from their families.
To counter these threats, the guide sets out a number of recommendations.
It urges governments to reinforce data collection and reporting systems, while also authorising independent studies and making greater use of research from civil society.
The document further calls for the creation of interagency working groups to improve coordination, as well as the introduction of additional security protocols during “major Christian holidays and festivals.”
It also stresses the responsibility of the media to provide “accurate”, “unbiased” coverage that avoids perpetuating anti-Christian stereotypes.
