In the last year (2021), from January to December, there have been more than 500 incidents of hate against Christians and Christian institutions in 15 European countries.
These events are recorded in the latest Report produced by the "European Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe", Oidac for short, based in Vienna, the capital of Austria.
The report recorded 14 assaults and injuries. “And given the low reported status of hate crimes, we can say that the actual number of these cases is much higher in reality.”
The above facts are also supplemented by figures from the Organization for Security and Cooperation's annual report on hate crimes, published this 16 November.
In addition to hate crimes such as vandalism, theft, and arson, OIdac has also noted an alarming increase in negative biases, the justifications given for acts of violence and direct insults. against Christians and Christian denominations by public figures, including politicians or journalists. In particular, the Oidac Observatory also notes: “A disturbing trend in which the public seems indifferent to insults or misrepresentation of Christians, especially when comparing them to religious groups other."
The observatory also warns that: “The secularization trend of intolerance has a negative effect on the religious freedom of Christians. One of the phenomena of intolerance is the self-censorship of Christians in the public sphere, on traditional forums, and also in the private sphere and in the workplace.
The object of the Oidac Observatory is to analyze the sources of intolerance and anti-Christian discrimination and to identify the currents of intolerance in our societies. Therefore, the report also addresses discrimination in the legislative area that causes problems, at the national and international level, or because of the lack of authority of the authorities to handle issues related to religion. religion and freedom of religion.
Madeleine Enzlberger, Executive Director of the Oidac Observatory said: “The division between Christians and secular groups is blown up by the press and politicians. Tolerance and respect should be applied equally to all social groups and protected. Therefore, we emphasize religious freedom, not only for Christians in the world, but also for non-believers.”
May God bless us and the whole world! 🙏🙏🙏
(Kai, Kathpress 11-14-2022)