France Reports Sharp Surge in Anti-Religious Acts, Government Says
France sees as sharp rise in anti – The French Interior Ministry has released a detailed analysis of religious hate crimes across the country, covering the period from 2010 to 2025. The study, which emphasizes “a real or perceived affiliation to a religion” as a primary motive, reveals a troubling trend in attacks targeting individuals and property associated with Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The report singles out the past year as a period of notable escalation, particularly linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to the ministry’s findings, anti-religious incidents experienced a modest decline in 2020 due to pandemic-related lockdowns and reduced public movement. However, this trend reversed sharply after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, which triggered a significant spike in antisemitic acts and, to a lesser extent, anti-Muslim incidents. The document highlights how the conflict has intensified religious hostility, with antisemitism becoming the dominant form of anti-religious aggression in recent years.
“The resurgence of antisemitic acts began as early as the day after 7 October 2023, even before any Israeli response,” the report states. “There was a 1,209% increase in such incidents between September and October alone, underscoring the immediate and widespread impact of the conflict.”
The analysis notes that while antisemitic acts have been rising steadily since 2010, their share of all anti-religious incidents has grown from 41% in 2015 to 53% in 2025. This marks a 203% surge between 2022 and 2025, with the National Territorial Intelligence Directorate (DNRT) documenting 1,676 antisemitic incidents in 2023. Over 1,200 of these occurred in the months following the Hamas attack, demonstrating an overwhelming link between the event and subsequent acts of religious violence.
Anti-Christian incidents, which historically made up 43% of all anti-religious acts between 2010 and 2015, now account for 34% of the total. The report attributes this shift to the increasing frequency of targeted attacks on individuals rather than property. In 2025, there were 843 recorded anti-Christian acts, a 9% rise from the previous year. The ministry stresses that the growth is driven by a sharp increase in personal assaults, with the number of such incidents doubling in 2025 compared to 2024.
The breakdown of anti-religious acts reveals a significant shift in focus. While property damage remains the most common form of attack, comprising 87% of incidents, the proportion of acts targeting people has grown substantially. For example, physical assaults on Jewish individuals have tripled since 2022, rising from 42 to 126 incidents. The report also highlights the growing threat to Christian worshippers, noting that leaders of religious institutions faced four times as many attacks in 2025 as in 2024.
Underestimation and Societal Impact
The ministry warns that the reported figures likely represent only a fraction of the actual anti-religious acts, as many victims do not file complaints. This underreporting could be exacerbated by fear, social stigma, or the complexity of distinguishing between hate crimes and other forms of discrimination. The Interior Ministry describes the trend as “a worrying reality,” with religious hostility undermining freedom of conscience and threatening national unity.
The report underscores that the rise in religious hate crimes has created a “very balance of our society” at risk. It links the phenomenon to broader societal changes, including the proliferation of violent speech on social media, which has fueled antisemitism among younger generations. “The persistence of antisemitism among younger populations is largely due to the wider spread of hate-filled rhetoric online,” the document says, pointing to the role of platforms in amplifying prejudice and inciting attacks.
Key Statistics and Trends
Between 2010 and 2015, anti-Christian and antisemitic acts dominated the landscape, making up 43% and 41% of all anti-religious incidents, respectively. Anti-Muslim acts accounted for just 14%, but their share has since risen, though not as prominently as antisemitism. Since 2015, the total number of anti-religious acts has increased by 21% across France, with distinct patterns emerging among the three major faiths.
Antisemitic acts have surged dramatically, peaking in 2023 with a record high. The report highlights the speed of this growth, as attacks rose by 1,209% between September and October 2023. This rapid escalation has led to a situation where antisemitism now constitutes over half of all anti-religious incidents. The ministry emphasizes that while the number of such acts dipped slightly in 2025, it remains at a historically high level, indicating a persistent threat.
Anti-Christian acts, though less frequent than antisemitic ones, have also shown a steady upward trajectory. The peak was recorded in 2018, with 1,063 incidents reported, but the trend has continued, albeit at a slower pace. In 2025, the ministry noted a 9% increase compared to 2024, driven by a 70% rise in attacks on individuals. Of the 109 incidents involving people, 23 were physical assaults, doubling the previous year’s count. The report also highlights that 817 of the 843 anti-Christian acts targeted the Catholic community, reflecting the dominant presence of this faith in France.
The government has highlighted several key incidents to illustrate the growing threat. One such case is the murder of Ashur Sarnaya, a 45-year-old Iraqi Christian, in Lyon on 10 September 2025. This event underscores the severity of anti-Christian violence, which has become more frequent and targeted. Additionally, the disruption of religious services and threats against worshippers increased by 86% in 2025, with 54 incidents reported compared to 29 in 2024. These disruptions, often linked to anti-religious acts, have further strained communal harmony.
Overall, the Interior Ministry’s report paints a complex picture of religious tensions in France. While the country has seen a decline in some forms of religious hate since the early 2020s, the recent resurgence, fueled by the Israel-Hamas conflict, has rekindled concerns about the normalization of anti-religious violence. The document stresses that these acts not only threaten individuals but also pose a long-term risk to the social fabric, requiring sustained efforts to address the underlying causes.
