Discrimination against Christians is on the rise in Europe, according to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe’s (OIDAC Europe) annual report.
The non-governmental organisation recently released its annual ‘Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe Report,’ which revealed that there were more than 2,400 anti-Christian hate crimes committed in 35 European countries in 2023, as reported by police forces and civil society, which included acts of violence, threat and harassment.
OIDAC’s report revealed that France, Germany and the UK were countries ‘of particular concern,’ with nearly 1,000 anti-Christian hate crimes reported in France last year, 700 in the UK and a 105% increase in Germany, seeing its number rise to 277.
Self-censorship
Alongside a variety of violent incidents, with vandalism against churches ranking highly, researchers found that discrimination against Christians in the workplace and in public life in some countries (often a result of the implementation of new measures which restrict religious freedoms), had led to ‘increasing self-censorship’ amongst many Christians across Europe, with politicians particularly at risk.
The report said: ‘Christian politicians are particularly vulnerable to discrimination on the basis of their personal religious beliefs and may be forced to choose between their political career and their religious beliefs.’
The report described these forms of discrimination as having a ‘chilling effect’, ‘leading many Christians, particularly among the younger generation, to self-censor or even hide their beliefs at university and in the workplace, as recent findings demonstrate.’
