This is despite a wave in religious discrimination throughout Europe. Hate crimes that target Christians have been on the rise by close to 150 percent since last year.
Between 2019 and 2020, attacks on the majority Christian nation increased from 57 percent to 141 percent.
These included seven assaults on Christians because of their faith, three thefts, robberies and one grave desecration. There were also 24 threats verbally.
In Germany, the overall rate of hate crimes rose 19% last year.
Observatory on Intolerance against Christians in Europe in Vienna (OIDAC) has compiled a report on anti Christian hate crimes in Europe. It states that the biggest threats to Christianity come from’secular intolerant’ and Islamic oppression.
It is part of a European wave of religious discrimination that has seen hate crimes targeting Christians increase by almost 150 percent in Germany. Photo: Berlin Cathedral
These figures were provided by the German Police and Federal Statistics Office to Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the largest intergovernmental security-oriented body in the world.
A number of church groups have also reported that members were being attacked with vandalism reports and other physical assaults.
A report stated that a street vendor struck a female Jehovah’s witness aged 77 while she was engaged in religious activities. The victim was knocked to the ground by the woman and her head was smashed.
According to the church, a Jehovah’s Witness kingdom hall also was ‘desecrated’ after its mailbox was filled full of urine.
A Protestant church in another attack was vandalized with graffiti and far-right symbols.
A terrorist group called ISIS attacked the Berlin Christmas Market in 2016, killing 12 people.
OIDAC reported that secular intolerance is a significant threat to Christians living in Europe. It is defined as the marginalization or exclusion from public and personal life of any religion.
It states that “Some of the ideas that underpin the secular intolerance found in universities and politics today are anti-Christian,” with neo-Marxist undercurrents.
This has resulted in the banning of Christian symbols from public spaces, the disregard of parental rights at school, and the restriction of freedom of expression.
According to the study, this has resulted in dismissals at work and no-platforming as well as police investigations into the expression of Christian faith.
It also states that “Islamic oppression” has resulted in “violent attacks” against Christians.
The experts said that Islamic Oppression was most prevalent in “hotspot areas”, which we refer to as European suburbs and cities. There, they create unique legal codes and moral codes which often conflict with democratic principles.
OIDAC reports on Germany that: “Freedom of speech has been restricted in Germany regarding discussions about gender and marriage, bioethics or sexuality.”
German hate crime included seven assaults on Christians because of their faith, three thefts, robberies and one grave desecration. There were also 24 threats verbally. Pictured: graffiti in Cologne Cathedral
According to them, this led to investigations by police into Christians who claimed traditional religion beliefs.
According to the report, Christian students were denied access to certain facilities due to their faiths. This has led to them being called ‘homophobic’ and ‘antifeminist.
According to them, “Some forms of discrimination include that groups are denied access to campus facilities, renting rooms and prohibited from sharing flyers. They also do not get accreditation by student councils.
“Some students also received threats.”
A study by Matthias Revers and Richard Traunmüller at the Goethe University Frankfurt found that a third of German students are in favour of banning controversial books from the student library.
However, between one third and half of university students wouldn’t allow controversial speakers on campus.
Following being invited to Gottingen University by Reformatio 21 Christian students group, Michael Kiworr, a Gynaecologist was prevented from speaking about abortion at Gottingen University.
The group Alternative Linke Liste Göttingen staged protests and forced the university to rescind the invitation.
The Professor’s Forum in Germany, a group of 800 academics from Germany, criticized the move.
The group stated that there were frequent instances in which politically active groups undermine freedom of speech.
OIDAC also stated that Germany must respond more quickly to defend Christians against attacks by radical groups.