Hate Crimes against Christians Under-Reported and Under-Recorded – Holy See
Hate crimes against Christians in Europe are given poor attention, the Holy See delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said.
On Nov. 17, Monsignor Janusz Urbanczyk, the representative of the Holy See to the OSCE, recently delivered a statement on hate crimes. He said these types of crimes committed against Christians in Europe are under-reported, under-recorded, and under-prosecuted, according to Vatican Radio.
The statement comes after police released figures that reflected the increasing number of hate crimes against Muslims in London. Monsignor Urbanczyk pointed out that not enough attention is also being given to similar crimes committed against Christians, and these incidents are "more numerous" than the attacks on Muslims, Christian Today reports.
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Because Christianity is not considered a minority religion in Europe, the number of hate crimes against Christians is being overlooked. The word "minority" is usually associated with being a victim, but it does not mean that those belonging to the majority are not vulnerable, said Urbanczyk.
In addition, 60 to 70 percent of anti-semitic hate crimes are carried out against properties rather than against persons. The delegate explained that many jurisdictions do not consider crimes against properties serious, so there is a tendency not to record, investigate, and prosecute the crimes, the report details.
In conclusion, Urbanczyk called for the OSCE to focus more on hate crimes targeting those in majority faith groups. He recommended that the National Points of Contact record, maintain, and disseminate data on religiously motivated hate crimes, the report relays.
Moreover, the Holy See representative suggested that specific moves to protect Christian communities should be implemented, just as the Jewish and Muslim communities are being protected. As part of the objective to curb hate crimes against Christians, Monsignor Urbanczyk said rules should also be enforced to promote, respect, and protect religious sites and places of worship.
