SPANISH INQUISITION?

This report is retweeted with thanks from Observatory on Intolerance & Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC)

INTOLERANCE IN SPAINSince the publication of the OIDAC Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians Report 2025 in December 2025  – which received significant attention, being covered by more than 300 media outlets—challenges to religious freedom in Europe have not ceased.

In Spain, a Provincial Prosecutor has opened an investigation into Bishop José Ignacio Munilla for alleged “hate speech” after he criticised draft legislation banning so-called “conversion therapies,” warning that vague definitions could endanger Catholic pastoral care. In Germany, a Christian professor was cancelled from lecturing at a university following student protests over his pro-life and pro-marriage views. In the United Kingdom, a pastor received a police “warning” that displaying the Bible verse John 3:16 on his van could be considered “hate speech”. Meanwhile in Brussels, the Christian organisations FAFCE and WYA have denounced their exclusion from EU project funding administered by the European Commission.

Security concerns have also remained persisted. While a planned ISIS-linked terrorist attack on a German Christmas market was successfully thwarted, French security services have confirmed that Christians remain prime targets of Islamist terrorists. Meanwhile the deadly ISIS-attack on Jewish believers during Hanukkah in Sydney (Bondai Beach) was a sobering reminder that Jewish communities remain vulnerable and need our solidarity and prayers.

There have also been encouraging developments. A Spanish court has acquitted 21 pro-life volunteers who had prayed outside an abortion facility, clearly reaffirming that prayer does not constitute harassment and that freedom of assembly must be upheld.

We are particularly grateful that our 2025 Report has received significant attention and has already prompted concrete responses. Beyond national initiatives, the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief issued a statement calling for stronger protection of religious freedom. The broad media coverage across Europe is helping to bring these issues into sustained public debate.