Spain

The Holy See, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and the Observatory for Freedom of Religion and Conscience all reported one case of damage to a church, one case of attempted arson and one incident in which property associated with Christians was vandalized. The Holy See and the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians both reported additional cases, including several physical assaults against participants in a youth event connected with the Pope’s visit, two cases of damage to churches and one case of damage to church property.

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians reported two separate cases, which included damage to a church and attempted arson inside a church.

The Observatory for Freedom of Religion and Conscience also reported a case of damage to church property and a case of physical assault.

The Cabinet of Social Studies and the Union of Islamic Communities in Spain both reported a physical assault by a group resulting in the serious injury of three victims of Arab background in a Madrid prison; a physical assault against a Senegalese man resulting in his falling into a coma; a physical assault by a group against a Senegalese man involving a knife and serious injuries; and a physical assault by two men against two young men of African origin.

The Cabinet of Social Studies (GES) and the Movement Against Intolerance (MAI) reported one case of threats and physical assault against a woman of Bolivian origin who was helping migrants obtain documentation. The Cabinet of Social Studies reported a further 11 physical assaults, four of which involved serious injury and six of which involved an attack by a group; and one case of threats. The majority of victims were of African origin.

The Union of Islamic Communities in Spain reported a further two physical assaults, both of which involved attacks by a group.

The Union of Islamic Communities in Spain reported three cases of pigs’ body parts being left outside mosques or future mosque sites, one case of graffiti on a mosque, one case of physical assault and one case of threats.

The Cabinet of Social Studies reported two cases of graffiti and one case of grave desecration.

FELGBT reported 12 physical assaults, including one involving a group of perpetrators, three involving gay couples, one involving a lesbian couple, and a series of physical assaults against a boy at school. 

The Cabinet of Social Studies reported one case of physical assault against a transgender person, one case of assault against a man taking part in an activity organized by a local LGBT group, and two cases of physical assault involving serious injury.