Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in France Surge by Over 30% in 2024

Paris, France – Anti-Christian hate crimes in France, particularly arson attacks on churches, have seen a significant increase, with a reported surge of over 30% in 2024. This alarming trend has fueled concerns regarding religious intolerance and the safety of Christian institutions across the nation.

The rise in such incidents was recently highlighted by a social media post from Eyal Yakoby, who stated, "> Islamists attacked a Catholic bookstore in France, calling it “fascist” for selling Bibles, Christian literature, and statues of Jesus and Mary." While details of this specific bookstore attack remain unverified in official reports, it reflects a broader climate of escalating tensions.

According to a 2024 report by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC), France accounted for nearly 1,000 of the 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes documented across Europe in 2023. These acts primarily involved vandalism (62%), arson (10%), and physical violence (7%). The OIDAC report also noted that where motives could be established, many had a "radical Islamist link."

Prominent political figures have voiced strong condemnation. Marine Le Pen, a leading French far-right politician, recently denounced the "exponential violence targeting Catholics" following an arson attack on the Notre-Dame-des-Champs church in Paris. She criticized public authorities for their perceived inability to protect places of worship and the "selective outrage" of some political figures.

Other recent incidents include the desecration of the Saint Jean Marie Vianney church in Rennes, vandalism at the Saint-Laurent church in Maurepas, and a disturbing confrontation in Avignon where a priest was threatened with "We're going to come back and burn down your church" by a group shouting "Allah akbar." These events underscore the growing challenges faced by Christian communities in France.