Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

Hate crime targeting individuals on the basis of religion can take various forms. The extent and nature of attacks motivated by bias against a particular religion are influenced by a number of factors, including the minority or majority status of that religion in a given territory. Successive ODIHR hate crime reports have indicated that graffiti and vandalism against places of worship, the desecration of cemeteries and arson attacks against churches are some of the more common types of crimes motivated by bias against Christians and members of other religions.

Beginning in 2004, a number of OSCE ministerial council decisions and declarations have included specific commitments on and references to the importance of combating prejudice, intolerance and discrimination against Christians and members of other religions.
Some participating States disaggregate data on anti-religious hate crime into sub-categories, such as "non-denominational", "Catholic", "Protestant", "other religions", or "Jehovah's witnesses". The Holy See also collects information on hate incidents based on bias against Christians through its network of regional representatives. This information is submitted by ODIHR to authorities in the respective participating States for verification and information on the status of investigation and of hate motive.
OSCE participating States collect varying types of information, which is then reported and presented under the heading of this bias motivation. For some states, the number of cases reported here may cover all hate crimes committed with an anti-religious bias (including anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim). In other cases, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes are reported under specific bias categories and, thus not included in the overall figure for crimes committed with an anti-religious bias. Some participating States report only crimes committed against Christians. As a consequence of these differences, the data presented under this bias category require caution, as comparison based on numbers of cases alone may not be accurate.
For these reasons, this category of hate crimes has been used until 2016, when ODIHR further disaggregated its reporting. From this year on, Anti-Christian Hate Crime and Other Hate Crime Based on Religion or Belief are presented as separate categories.

ODIHR TANDIS

International Reports

OSCE Region

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed concern about violent attacks against religious communities and individuals. The Assembly urged states to condemn, combat and bring to justice cases of violence committed against individuals owing to their religion or beliefs.

At its session dealing with the rights of religious minorities, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Forum on Minority Issues recommended that states provide for the proper documentation and prosecution of cases of intimidation, attacks or communal violence against members of religious minorities.

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 22/31 on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against persons based on religion or belief.

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 22/20 on freedom of religion or belief, which condemns acts of violence based on religion or belief and urges states to diligently prevent, investigate and punish such acts.

In his report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief advocated the implementation by the states of the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

In its Decision No. 3/13 on “Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion or Belief”, the OSCE Ministerial Council called on participating States to prevent intolerance, violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, including against Christians, Jews, Muslims and members of other religions, as well as against non-believers; condemn violence and discrimination on religious grounds; prevent and protect against attacks directed at persons or groups based on thought, conscience, religion or belief; and protect religious sites from vandalism and destruction.