Senators seek protection for Christians in France

Led by Senator Sylviane Noël of Haute-Savoie in southeastern France, the statement was signed by 86 senators. It painted a grave picture of growing violence against churches and Christians across the country, and of what the signatories describe as a culpable indifference from public authorities.

“Not a week goes by without the regional daily press or social media informing us of these attacks, ranging from desecration and arson to physical assault,” the appeal warned.

According to the statement, 322 anti-Christian acts were recorded in the first five months of 2025 alone – a 13 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. The theft of liturgical objects has also surged by more than 20 per cent in two years, with 820 cases reported in 2024, as against 633 in 2022.

The appeal briefly cited a few incidents to illustrate this trend. In the Landes region, at least 27 churches have been vandalised or desecrated in a matter of weeks, while in Nice, the defilement of a cross has shocked the local population. 

The most emblematic case in recent months was the murder of Ashur Sarnaya, a 45-year-old Assyro-Chaldean Christian refugee from Iraq with a disability, while livestreaming on social media. His story became a symbol of both Christian endurance and the vulnerability of believers in today’s France.

The senators denounced political and media circles for their indifference toward Christians. They observed that incidents involving other faiths often trigger immediate official reactions and extensive media coverage, while attacks on Christian sites frequently pass unnoticed.

While France has established reporting platforms and support systems for victims of antisemitic and anti-Muslim acts, no equivalent mechanism exists for anti-Christian incidents. 

The senators called on the French government to establish a national reporting and support system for victims of anti-Christian acts. Without seeking to pit communities against one another, the senators concluded that protecting Christians is part of a broader effort to defend France’s unity.

FULL STORY

French senators urge action against rising anti-Christian attacks in the country (By Solène Tadié/CNA)