What is EU doing about violence against Christians, MEP asks

That is the topic Emmanouil Fragkos, a Greek MEP, raises. He refers to the sharply increasing number of examples of intolerance towards Christians in Europe and constant acts of vandalism against believers. His question is whether measures could reduce discriminatory and violent acts against Christians.

Mr Fragkos represents the Greek Solution party and is part of the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformers) group in the European Parliament. The Greek news platform Orthodoxia News Agency reports about this. Fragkos is also quoted by the English platform of the Union of Orthodox Journalists as well.

Violence is on the rise

According to the Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians (OIDAC), in 2020, 380 Christianophobic incidents were recorded in Europe, a dramatic increase from 289 in 2019.

The Gatestone Institute reports 3,000 attacks on Christian buildings and property in 2019. In France, attacks on Christian sites increased by 250 per cent between 2008-2018. In 2021, there were 800 anti-Christian incidents in France, as was reported this week by Catholic News Agency. Vandals frequently target Catholic churches. The Observatory of Christianophobia documents the incidents in France.

Sharp rise in hate crimes against Christians in 2020

18-11-2021

In Greece alone in 2020, 385 attacks were recorded in Christian churches and 10 in synagogues. According to police sources, this is either violence by aggressive Islamists or violent far-left groups.

In June 2020, the Council of Europe declared an "unwavering commitment to protecting EU citizens against terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms". But the Council of Europe is a different organisation from the European Union. As such, the EU is inactive, Mr Fragkos says.
He wants to know what action the European Commission has taken to fight the several sources of violence against Christians.