857 attacks against French Christians in 2021
A study by French members of parliament found attacks on people for their religious beliefs are increasing in the country.
Of the 1,659 anti-religious attacks in 2021, 857 were against Christians. Overall, attacks against people in France for their faith were up 38% last year compared with 2019.
Romain Choisnet with the National Council of Evangelicals in France said, “For a long time, anti-Christian acts consisted of damage to or theft from places of worship, which still account for most of the incidents, but physical violence is on the increase.”
Russia invaded Ukraine
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered troops into those areas for so-called “peacekeeping” purposes.
In response, the U.S., the U.K., and 27 E.U. countries issued financial sanctions against Russia. Germany suspended the operating license of a key gas pipeline between it and Russia. And the U.S. is sending about a thousand more troops to Eastern Europe.
