Act Against Anti-Christian Hate in Europe
CitizenGO - started this petition to European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance - 2025/01/20The persecution of Christians in Europe and around the world is rising.
A new report by Open Doors International showed that over 380 million Christians faced persecution and discrimination in 2024; this is an increase of over 15 million compared to 2023.
In the year 2023, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) published a report showing a 44% rise in "anti-Christian hate crimes” in Europe.
Churches around are being attacked, burned and desecrated! Christians in Europe face increasing persecution in public life daily. Priests, pastors and religious are being attacked, and faithful Christians are discriminated against.
The European Union continues to ignore this growing anti-Crhistian hatred in Europe. Persecution of other religions like Islam and Judaism is recognised and legislated against, yet Christianity lacks any such protection.
If the EU wants to claim to promote freedom of religion, they must treat all religions the same and provide the same protection for all religions regardless of their size.
The EU has long ignored this issue. We have seen anti-Christian hate crimes grow every year, yet the EU remains ignorant. This leaves Christians without equal protection, compromising safety and freedom.
Let's take France, a country where anti-Christian attacks have been in the spotlight over the past few years, as an example.
The French Ministry of the Interior reported shocking hate crime statistics. Out of 1,659 anti-religious acts in 2021, the vast majority, 857 targeted Christians. Meanwhile, only 589 were anti-Semitic, and 213 were anti-Muslim.
It is time for us to stand up for Christianity! We have to demand that the EU recognises this crisis and starts combating the anti-Christian hate in Europe.
With the sharp year-on-year increase in attacks and discrimination against Christians, if we do not act fast, things will continue to get worse and worse every year. Churches will continue to burn down without any serious consequences.
Without any legal protection, Christianity will increasingly become pushed out of public life in Europe, hate crimes will go unpunished, and millions of Christians will suffer injustices.
The EU must appoint a coordinator for the fight against anti-Christian hatred in the same way it already employs coordinators to combat hate directed against Jews and Muslims.
I need your help! YOUR signature can make a huge difference! Alone, I can’t put enough pressure on the EU, but our voices join together have immense power for change.
Act now! Help make anti-Christian hate crimes become unthinkable.
Together, we can ensure that Christianity is afforded the same legal protections as other religions.
Make a real difference! Sign the petition now to urge the EU to recognize Christian persecution and start fighting anti-Christian hate in Europe.
More information:
Catholic Herald: https://catholicherald.co.uk/eu-needs-to-protect-christianity-in-same-way-it-does-islam-and-judaism/
EU Freedom of Religion:
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/freedom-religion-or-belief_en
Angelus News:
https://angelusnews.com/news/world/church-european-union-hate/
UCA News:
https://www.ucanews.com/news/christian-persecution-on-the-rise-worldwide-new-report/107577
13,460 have signed.
Let's get to 20,000
Act Against Anti-Christian Hate in Europe
Dear members of the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance,
The persecution of Christians in Europe is rising alarmingly. Churches are attacked, priests are threatened, and the faithful are discriminated against.
We demand that you appoint a coordinator for the fight against anti-Christian hatred in the same way you already employ coordinators to combat hate directed against Jews and Muslims.
In 2021, the majority of religious hate crimes in France were committed against Christians. Yet the EU remains silent while other religions gain protection. The OIDAC published a report showing that in 2023, there has been a 44% rise in "anti-Christian hate crimes” in Europe.
Despite these shocking figures, the EU remains silent on the issue. Christians are left without legal protection and equal tools against hate crimes. This disparity in recognition is unjust.
If the EU wants to claim that it encourages freedom of religion, it must provide equal protection to all religions.
We call on the EU to recognize and combat anti-Christian hate. Freedom of religion demands equality for all faiths.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]