France recorded 843 anti-Christian incidents in 2025, representing a 9% increase compared to the previous year, according to the French government’s latest report on anti-religious offences. While offences against Christian property continue to account for the vast majority of recorded cases, the report highlights a particularly alarming development: offences against individuals increased by 70% in a single year.
Property offences represented 87% of all anti-Christian incidents (734 cases), primarily targeting churches. However, the sharpest increase concerned attacks against individuals, with 109 offences recorded in 2025. According to the report, “physical violence targeting members of the Christian community doubled” compared to the previous year, with attacks against clergy and other church officials increasing fourfold. Disruptions of religious services and threats against worshippers also rose by 86%. The year was further marked by the murder of Christian Ashur Sarnaya in Lyon in September 2025.
More broadly, the French government notes that anti-religious offences have generally increased over the past decade, although trends differ between religious communities. Since the Hamas terrorist attack of 7 October 2023, antisemitic offences have risen sharply and now constitute the largest share of anti-religious offences. Nevertheless, the report emphasises that anti-Christian incidents also increased in 2025, particularly violent offences against Christians, while anti-Muslim incidents also saw a substantial rise.
Source: Bilan des actes antireligieux