France, renowned for its secularism and religious diversity, has been going through a period of tension for several years marked by a tangible increase in hate acts directed against Christian communities, especially evangelicals. According to the latest report by the View of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians (OIDAC), published on August 27, 2025, nearly 950 anti-Christian crimes were formalized in the territory in the last 12 months. The phenomenon is mainly concentrated in large metropolises like Paris, but incidents are also noted in the regions.
Striking facts and nature of acts
Evangelical churches face an increase in hostile behaviors: anonymous threats, degradations of places of worship (tags, windows, voluntary fires), intimidation of believers during rallies and psychological pressures on pastors and faithful. These facts, reported by associations for the defense of religious rights, bear witness to a deleterious climate which affects more specifically the communities perceived as “minority” in the French religious space. Online harassment, calls for hatred on certain platforms and denigration campaigns aim to weaken the internal cohesion of evangelical churches and limit their local social action.
Motivation and context
The motivations behind this wave of hatred are based on a persistent ignorance of evangelical doctrine, often stigmatized as too proselyte or offset compared to French contemporary cultural norms. The boom in evangelical churches, whose workforce increases significantly, arouses contradictory reactions: rejection of their increased visibility, fear of a change in the religious landscape or misunderstanding of their practices. Certain identity groups and anti -religious movements denounce the societal influence of these communities, accusing them of encroaching on education, the hosting of young people or social initiatives.
Impact and answers
Faced with the rise of anti -Christian acts, evangelical officials multiply the calls for vigilance and intercultural dialogue. Official complaints have been filed, awareness campaigns carried out in schools and specialized platforms open to collect and report incidents. The government observes this dynamic closely, recognizing the need for reinforced protection of religious freedom, in particular in sensitive neighborhoods and establishments open to the public.
The situation remains worrying and testifies to a deep crisis of social cohesion and mutual respect, which first affects evangelical minorities but more broadly challenges French society on the contemporary challenges of living together.
