A European watchdog has warned of serious anti-Christian violence in Europe and called on governments to protect converts from Islam in particular.

In their latest annual report, the Vienna-based Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) cites an increase in anti-Christian hate crimes by 44%.

While the majority of the 749 cases were acts of vandalism or arson, the religious freedom watchdog noted a marked increase in violent attacks against individual people.

Since the beginning of 2024, OIDAC Europe has documented 25 cases of violence, threats and attempted murder against Christians in Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Poland and Serbia.

In some cases, entire communities have been attacked.

Executive Director of OIDAC Europe, Anja Hoffmann, also highlighted the need to protect and support Christian converts from Islam who are viewed as “apostates.”