Europe Accused of Ignoring Anti-Christian Violence as Churches Burn and Priests Are Killed

The Council of Europe is facing mounting backlash after critics accused the institution of turning a blind eye to a growing wave of violence and discrimination against Christians across the continent.

The criticism intensified after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on April 21, 2026, aimed at combating religious discrimination. While the document strongly addressed antisemitism and Islamophobia, critics say it failed to explicitly recognize what advocacy groups describe as a rapidly escalating pattern of anti-Christian hostility — often referred to as “Christianophobia.”

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) condemned the resolution, arguing that European institutions have shown a “persistent unwillingness” to fully acknowledge attacks targeting Christians.

According to the organization, the mandate of the Council of Europe’s special representative on religious intolerance still does not explicitly mention Christians, despite dedicated recognition for other faith communities.

“This renders much of the violence against Christians effectively invisible,” the ECLJ said in a statement.

The accusations come as new data paints an alarming picture of religious hostility across Europe.

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) reported more than 2,200 anti-Christian incidents during 2024 alone. The cases included church vandalism, arson attacks, physical assaults, intimidation campaigns, and the killings of clergy members.

OIDAC’s latest report noted that attacks involving the destruction or burning of churches nearly doubled compared with previous years. Advocacy groups warn that the trend has continued into 2025 and 2026.

Many incidents, experts say, likely go unreported because victims fear public ridicule or believe authorities will dismiss their complaints.

Pressure on European institutions is now intensifying. The ECLJ has launched a petition signed by more than 9,600 citizens demanding stronger protections for Christians and formal recognition of anti-Christian discrimination within European policy frameworks.

“There are mechanisms to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia, but none for Christians. That is unacceptable,” the petition states.

The controversy has reignited a broader debate over Europe’s cultural and religious identity. Once widely regarded as the historic heartland of Christianity, Europe is increasingly confronting accusations that it is neglecting the very traditions that shaped its civilization.

Some analysts warn that continued imbalance in the treatment of religious discrimination could deepen social tensions and undermine religious freedom across the continent.

(Sources: Christian Today; ECLJ; OIDAC Europe Report 2025; Christian Daily; OSCE)