The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe reports at least 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes in 35 European countries in 2023.

The Swedish, European and World Evangelical Alliances sent a joint report on asylum seekers, conscientious objection, and hate speech, among other issues.

A concise joint Christian statement signed by Pentecostals, Baptists, evangelical Lutherans, as well as the Roman Catholic bishops, denounces the “activism” and “pressures” of the government.

In a letter delivered to the Nicaraguan embassy in Spain, the Spanish Evangelical Alliance expresses its concern about the “harassment and demolition of freedoms” in the Central American country.

The government has already eliminated over 5,500 organisations since the end of 2018, 70% of the total number that existed in Nicaragua by 2017.

After 4 years, the proceedings against pastor Olaf Latzel for hate speech are dropped. He paid a fine of 5000 euros and publicly apologised.

The instinct to withdraw into isolationism and nationalism is understandable, yet it plays into the hands of authoritarian, anti-democratic forces.

Why do people assume that the freedom of speech and of religion will persist when those asserting their power are committed to a different morality? 

Daniel Ortega’s objective is to cancel Nicaragua’s civil society including churches that refuse to be subservient to the regime.

May our votes in the upcoming elections go to those whose worldview promotes long-term sustainability. 

In just 2 moths, police raided 4 worship services and issued 7 fines for leading and participating in “illegal missionary activity”.

The world’s most populated country is in the midst of a key general election. “People are afraid that there will be no more elections afterwards”, says an evangelical.

Christians & European Elections (3). The Moldovan Valeriu Ghiletchi leads a movement of Christian politicians in Europe. He calls on citizens to defend the rights enjoyed on the continent.

A comment on the conversation around Scottish government minister Kate Forbes, her Christian faith and potential bid to be Scotland’s First Minister.

The Christian politician has won in two lower courts the right to express her Christian beliefs on homosexuality, but the public prosecutor hopes to win in Finland’s top court.

Fines of up to 10,000 euros for those who address someone by their former gender. The opposition denounces consequences of a “dangerous madness” for young people.

School handbooks now explain that all hate crimes should be reported to the police. The police are to set up reporting centres throughout Scotland where you can go and ‘clipe’ (a Scots word for snitch or tell-tale) on anyone.

“Extremism is the promotion of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance”, says the new legal definition of the government. Evangelical organisations see a risk in “subjective” decisions about what beliefs can or cannot be expressed.

Both the European Commission and the Parliament are addressing the problem of hate crimes. But without a clear definition of what “hate” is, we will not solve the problem, writes Arie de Pater of the European Evangelical Alliance in Brussels.

In the House of Lords, the bill is criticised as an attack on freedom of speech, religious freedom and parenting. “It would make illegal expressing some of the profoundest beliefs”.

A street preacher was wrongfully detained and won £15,000 in damages and legal costs, but the police logged in a 'non-crime hate incident report' against him.

The Christian parliamentarian will again defend that expressing her biblical understanding of marriage and homosexuality is a matter of freedom of speech. “I have a peaceful mind”.

Amendments to the law on the activities of religious organisations make it difficult to plant new churches and many could be forced to close.

The government of President Ortega has seized the properties of many non-profit groups. “The persecution of evangelicals is more silent than that of Catholics”, says human rights lawyer.

The government hopes to see less terrorist threats, but critics say it shows fear and a lack of trust in freedom of speech.