A Dominican nun and Bible scholar at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem was assaulted by a man in a quiet street. Surveillance footage shows the attacker striking her from behind, causing her to fall. He initially walked away but returned to kick her again before another man intervened. The assailant, identified by the tzitzit fringes on his jacket as an observant Jew, has been arrested. The incident highlights a shocking act of violence between individuals of different faiths in Israel.
Violent clashes occurred in the Al-Khader area near Bethlehem, Palestine, on Tuesday, May 15, between Muslim and Christian residents. The incident began when the Israeli army stated that two Palestinian attackers threw Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles and then fled into the St. George Church, where Christians were holding an annual celebration. The army claimed the attackers used the congregation as a human shield and avoided entering the holy site to protect civilians. According to the outlet, violent conflicts broke out between the two religious groups shortly after Israeli forces withdrew. Israeli officials described the event as evidence of violence against Christians in the Middle East.
Five Christians in Sri Lanka were beaten and arrested following a mob attack in November 2025. The incident occurred in a majority-Buddhist area when an angry crowd, misled by false claims that the group intended to block a local road, confronted Oshana and her family during a home prayer service. Oshana’s sons and other members were injured. The five individuals, including Oshana, her sons, her daughter, and an evangelist, were jailed but later granted bail. They face court charges scheduled for June 15, 2026, according to the Voice of the Martyrs report. The outlet notes that villagers later confessed they were tricked by Buddhist leaders into joining the violence.
The Irish Catholic outlet has published an article suggesting the Holy Land may be turning into a 'Christian Disneyland.' This commentary follows global shock over a violent incident in Jerusalem, where a 48-year-old French sister was attacked by a stranger outside the Cenacle. The site is sacred to both Jews and Christians, believed to be King David's burial place. The publication uses this event to highlight concerns about the commercialization or superficial treatment of sacred sites in the region. The article appeared on the Irish Catholic website, reflecting on the implications for religious tourism and reverence in the area.
Serbian court documents reveal that Russian intelligence financed desecrations of synagogues and mosques in France in 2025. Three Serbian nationals pleaded guilty to spraying synagogues with green paint and placing severed pig heads outside mosques in Paris. The court found they received orders and money from Russian structures to incite religious intolerance and destabilize the region. French intelligence reports suggest the Kremlin directly approved the actions to weaken national unity. This marks the first known instance of Russian-sponsored religious desecration in Western Europe, aiming to raise security costs for European nations.
Israel indicted Yona Schreiber, a 36-year-old man from the West Bank settlement of Peduel, for attacking a Catholic nun near Jerusalem’s Old City last week. The indictment states Schreiber assaulted the woman because she wore a habit and also attacked a passerby who intervened. The incident has drawn condemnation from Christian leaders and highlights rising anti-Christian violence in the region. Schreiber faces charges of simple assault and assault motivated by religious hostility. This case occurs amid broader scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of religious minorities and recent incidents involving Christian sites in Lebanon.
A mob of extremists attacked Christian men constructing a church in western Ethiopia near the Sudanese border. The attackers used machetes to wound the workers, attempting to halt the building process. According to Voice of the Martyrs, the Christians had received prior warnings but proceeded because the local community lacked a place to gather. Despite the injuries sustained during the assault, the construction efforts continued. The outlet reported the incident as part of ongoing persecution against Christians in the region.
Credible intelligence warns of an imminent coordinated attack by a Fulani Ethnic Militia in a local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Sources indicate fighters from neighboring states assembled in a specific village before deploying toward a district. Armed elements were spotted near several villages, targeting settlements. The group reportedly possesses petroleum products intended for burning homes and places of worship. Communities are advised to remain on red alert due to the scale of mobilization and the threat to civilian populations and infrastructure, including churches.
Security alerts warn that suspected Fulani Ethnic Militia members plan to attack specific communities in Apa Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. The group reportedly intends to launch assaults on these settlements, posing a direct risk to local residents. Authorities advise citizens to maintain high vigilance, limit non-essential travel, and report suspicious activities to security forces and vigilante groups. Security operatives are urged to increase patrols and surveillance in the area to prevent potential violence. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available regarding the situation.
In a district of West Bengal, India, a group of activists allegedly vandalized the home of a Christian widow. The attackers threatened her to cease worshiping Jesus and demanded she donate her property for a Hindu temple. Police and security personnel confirmed the allegations after receiving a complaint. Officers instructed neighbors not to disturb her faith practice. The incident has raised concerns about minority safety following recent electoral changes in the region, which maintains a historic Christian presence through various local institutions.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have risen again during a US-mediated truce after a photo circulated online showing an Israeli soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces stated it is investigating the incident, noting the image was taken weeks prior, and condemned the soldier's behavior as inconsistent with military values. This event follows a previous destruction of a Jesus statue in the same area. Meanwhile, Israel struck the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, targeting a Hezbollah Radwan unit commander, while Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam insisted on a ceasefire consolidation before any political talks with Israel.
Translated from ItalianoAlso reported by 3 outlets
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Manish Shah on UnsplashPersecuted church
In a village in northern India, a pastor and his family were assaulted by two men. The attackers used wooden sticks to beat the pastor, his wife, his sister, and his niece, accusing the pastor of fraudulent religious conversion. The incident occurred in their local community, where the family has lived for generations. Police initially classified the event as a land dispute scuffle, despite the pastor’s claims that the motive was religious persecution. The pastor stated he would not leave his home or renounce his faith, noting that similar attacks have targeted other Christian families in the area recently.
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar issued a statement on May 5, 2026, expressing deep concern over recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The organization, led by Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, supports the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference and offers solidarity to victims. SECAM asserts that violence violates human dignity and African values like Ubuntu. It urges the South African government to protect residents, prosecute perpetrators, and stop vigilante justice. The group also calls on the African Union to enforce human rights laws and prevent future violence, emphasizing that all people must be treated with brotherly respect.
Nigeria experienced a surge of violence last week, with the Middle Belt suffering the heaviest losses. In Plateau, Benue, Kwara, and Kogi states, armed groups killed dozens of civilians and attacked security forces. In Adamawa, ISWAP militants killed at least 30 people in a village near the Cameroon border. Katsina and Kaduna states also saw deadly raids by bandits and ethnic militias, resulting in deaths and abductions. In Ekiti, gunmen killed a minister and kidnapped 15 church members. Despite these attacks, the Defence Headquarters reported killing 216 suspected terrorists and rescuing 188 victims in April.
Pastor Cyrille Payot served in the West Bank as part of the Eappi program, an ecumenical initiative by the World Council of Churches. Established at the request of Palestinian Christians, the mission aims to monitor the situation and report incidents. During a three-month stay in Bethlehem, Payot’s team recorded 844 incidents. The program places participants in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, and south of Hebron. While the work carries risks, no deaths have occurred among the 2,000 participants since its inception in the 2000s. Payot highlights the severe treatment of detainees, citing the death of a social center director in Israeli custody after arrest. The team operates with security protocols to ensure safety while documenting local realities.
Reports indicate damage to a Christian school in Yaroun, Lebanon, following Israeli military operations, though the IDF denies intentional demolition. The Holy See newspaper describes widespread destruction in southern Lebanese villages. Meanwhile, Father Ibrahim Faltas of the Custody of the Holy Land highlights escalating violence against Christians in Jerusalem and the West Bank. A French nun was assaulted in Jerusalem, and the Latin Patriarchate condemns settler attacks on church lands in Tubas. These events occur amid heightened hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns about the safety of religious sites and communities in the region.
Mirko Integlia, a Catholic priest in Sydney, Australia, received death threats from extremists after expressing support for the Jewish community. The anonymous letter, received on May 10, warned of violence similar to the Bondi Beach massacre. Police have placed the priest under protection due to his previous blog post criticizing the attack. The Holy Cross Church in Bondi Junction expressed deep concern and announced a solidarity event on May 17. Sydney Catholic leaders condemned the threats, emphasizing the right to worship safely and opposing all forms of religious violence.
A 48-year-old French nun was brutally assaulted by a man near the Cenacle in Jerusalem last Tuesday. Surveillance footage shows the attacker pushing her to the ground and kicking her before an Israeli tourist intervened. Police arrested a 36-year-old suspect, charging him with racially motivated aggression. The incident has triggered global condemnation, with France, Italy, and Spain demanding stronger protections for religious freedom. Data from the Religious Freedom Data Center indicates a significant rise in anti-Christian violence in the region during early 2026, prompting calls for accountability from international diplomats and church leaders.
A security alert warns of planned coordinated attacks by suspected militants in northern Nigeria. The threat targets communities in specific local government areas, including several villages. Authorities urge residents to maintain high alert, avoid isolated routes, and report suspicious movements immediately. This early warning aims to help communities take protective measures while security forces verify the information. Neighboring areas are advised to strengthen vigilance and communication networks to ensure rapid response to potential violence.
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