Churches in Hesse: 100 cases of vandalism and arson every year!

Churches in Hesse: 100 cases of vandalism and arson every year!

Wiesbaden, Deutschland - In Hesse there has been a worrying trend: almost 100 churches and their facilities are damaged every year. These figures come from an evaluation of police data and were revealed by the Interior Ministry.

In 2023, a total of 105 cases of property damage and arson were found. Most incidents occurred in the Kassel district, where 12 crimes were reported. There were also significant damage in the Schwalm-Eder district with nine documented cases. Wiesbaden, Fulda and the district of Marburg-Biedenkopf each had eight incidents. The average number of attacks on churches seems to be relatively stable in recent years, with the police even counting 126 cases in 2022.

annual statistics and motifs

The police records show a constant course of the property damage: in 2018 95 incidents were registered, in 2019 it was 103, in 2020 it was 108, 2021 corresponding 107, and in 2022 the number rose to 126. It is striking that no distinction is made after the data evaluation after a denomination. In addition, the amount of damage is not recorded, which makes it difficult to evaluate the situation.

A total of only two cases were documented between 2019 and 2023, in which a religious-extremist motive for the actions could be determined. This leaves questions about the reasons for the damage, since the majority of the incidents cannot be assigned to any clear motifs. Politicians and the communities are therefore faced with the challenge of understanding these steadily recurring attacks and taking suitable measures.

The persistent damage of churches in Hesse is not only part of the statistics, but also raises ethical and social issues. In view of the religious diversity and the cultural importance of these buildings, the question arises as to how these sacred rooms can be protected.

Further details can be found in the surveys of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, which document the development of incidents in a comprehensible manner. www.fron.de reports comprehensively on this topic and The associated developments.