By The European Times | Created at 2026-10-08 07:20:59 | Updated at 2026-10-08 08:10:55
1 hour ago
MEDIA-SOCIETY.COM // Experts from ODIHR and international civil society organisations examine attacks against Christians, threats to religious converts and the need for coordinated protection across the OSCE region.
WARSAW, 8 October 2026 — Religious hate crimes, the safety of vulnerable faith communities and the need for stronger institutional responses were at the centre of a side event held on 7 October during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, bringing together representatives of civil society, OSCE participating States and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The discussion, titled Hate Crime and Freedom of Religion or Belief in the OSCE Region: Responses to Anti-Religious Intolerance and Discrimination in a Multi-Faith Context, examined both the scale of hostility directed against religious communities and the practical measures needed to protect people exercising their freedom of religion or belief.
From attacks on churches and places of worship to intimidation experienced by religious converts in asylum accommodation, speakers highlighted the need for reliable evidence, effective institutional responses and closer cooperation between public authorities and religious communities.
The event also brought attention to ODIHR’s comprehensive approach to religious intolerance, combining targeted action against specific forms of hate crime with a commitment to protecting all religious and belief communities, including smaller and less-represented traditions.
ODIHR highlights practical tools and an inclusive approach
Mikaela Christiansson, Adviser on Combating Racism and Xenophobia in ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, outlined the organisation’s work supporting participating States and civil society in addressing religiously motivated hate crimes.
She presented ODIHR’s practical guidance on antisemitic, anti-Muslim and anti-Christian hate crimes, developed to help authorities understand distinct patterns of hostility, improve cooperation with affected communities and respond more effectively to security concerns.
A significant aspect of ODIHR’s work is its recognition that intolerance can affect religious communities differently, depending on their circumstances, visibility and social environment.
That comprehensive approach extends beyond the three religious traditions covered by the dedicated guides.
In September 2025, ODIHR convened representatives of religious and belief communities beyond Christians, Jews and Muslims for a consultation in Warsaw. The meeting sought to identify the concerns of communities that may receive less attention in international discussions and to explore opportunities for cooperation and mutual understanding.
The initiative provides useful context for Christiansson’s contribution to the October 2026 discussion. Her public engagement with the earlier consultation included appreciation for the perspectives shared by participants and recognition of the positive role religious communities can play in promoting understanding and overcoming intolerance.
Across the OSCE region, which includes 57 participating States stretching from North America through Europe and Central Asia, this wider engagement is particularly relevant for minority religious communities whose circumstances may differ considerably from one country to another.
By combining community-specific guidance with opportunities for broader participation, ODIHR is seeking to ensure that practical efforts against intolerance remain attentive to the diversity of religious and belief identities.
More than 2,200 anti-Christian hate crimes documented
The discussion also examined evidence of hostility towards Christians across Europe.
Anja Tang, Executive Director of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe), presented findings documenting 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes in 2024, drawing on police and civil society records.
Most of the reported incidents involved attacks against property, including churches and other religious sites. However, the organisation also recorded 274 personal attacks, an increase from 232 in 2023.
These findings raise concerns about the continuing exposure of individuals and religious communities to threats, harassment and violence.
Although the overall number of recorded incidents was lower than in 2023, the increase in personal attacks illustrates the importance of examining different forms of hate crime separately rather than relying exclusively on aggregate figures.
Tang emphasised the need for reliable data collection and called on participating States to uphold their OSCE commitments, including protections for public worship, religious practice and other manifestations of freedom of religion or belief.
Reliable monitoring is an important foundation for effective protection. It can help authorities identify patterns of hostility, allocate resources and develop measures that respond to the actual circumstances of affected communities.
Religious converts and asylum seekers face additional vulnerabilities
Another major issue raised during the event concerned people who change their religion, particularly refugees and asylum seekers.
Thibault van den Bossche, Advocacy Officer for Religious Freedom at the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), described situations in which converts to Christianity may experience intimidation or violence in asylum accommodation.
Such difficulties can become especially serious where converts form a small minority among residents or where their change of religion becomes known to others.
He also highlighted the particular vulnerabilities faced by women, whose experiences may be shaped by the combined effects of religion, gender and migration status.
His intervention called for an intersectional understanding of these risks and for practical protection of the right to change one’s religion or belief.
The issue goes beyond formal legal recognition. International human rights standards protect freedom of religion or belief, including the freedom to adopt or change a religion. For people living in reception facilities, however, the effectiveness of those protections also depends on their everyday safety and access to appropriate support.
International threats and institutional responsibilities
Marcela Szymanski, Head of International Advocacy at Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, broadened the discussion by examining threats to religious freedom associated with authoritarian regimes, transnational criminal organisations and religious extremism.
She stressed the importance of cooperation between institutions in responding to these challenges, which can involve very different forms of pressure, persecution and violence.
Carmen Correas, Legal Officer at ADF International, addressed the institutional mechanisms available to confront religious intolerance.
She called for the European Commission to appoint a dedicated coordinator addressing anti-Christian hatred and discrimination, alongside its existing structures addressing antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred.
The proposal was presented as a recommendation for strengthening institutional attention to anti-Christian intolerance, rather than as an existing European Commission decision.
Together, the contributions illustrated the different dimensions of the problem: preventing violence, protecting individuals, documenting incidents, supporting religious communities and improving institutional coordination.
From documentation to effective protection
The Warsaw discussion took place within the broader 2026 Human Dimension Conference, running from 5 to 15 October and bringing together representatives of governments, international organisations and civil society from across the OSCE region.
The conference, organised by the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship with ODIHR’s support, provides a forum for examining the implementation of commitments relating to human rights, democratic institutions and fundamental freedoms.
The 7 October side event built on ODIHR’s recent work concerning anti-Christian hate crimes and the security needs of Christian communities, while placing those concerns within a wider multi-faith context.
Participants emphasised that effective responses require sustained cooperation between authorities, civil society and religious or belief communities.
ODIHR’s practical guidance, improved data-collection methodologies and capacity-building activities offer tools through which participating States can strengthen their responses.
Yet the effectiveness of these measures ultimately depends on their application: whether victims feel able to report incidents, whether their experiences are recognised by public authorities and whether communities can exercise their rights without intimidation.
The meeting also demonstrated how concerns affecting one religious community can be addressed within a broader framework of equal protection.
The distinct challenges experienced by Christians, Jews, Muslims, religious converts and smaller faith communities need not compete for attention. Understanding those differences can instead contribute to more effective protection for all.
As the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference continues, the central message emerging from the discussion is that combating religious intolerance requires both recognition of the specific threats faced by individual communities and a sustained commitment to freedom of religion or belief for everyone.
The challenge for participating States and civil society is to turn that shared commitment into concrete improvements in security, trust and protection across the OSCE region.
