Anti-Christian hate crime

Christians are the targets of hate crime across the OSCE region. These incidents are influenced by a number of factors, including the minority or majority status in a given territory, the level of recognition of particular religious groups in a given country, or political and media focus on these groups at a particular moment. ODIHR's hate crime reporting includes reports of physical assaults and murders that indicate that Jehovah's Witnesses are particularly at risk. Reports have also 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.