My Friends Were Arrested in Paris for Sending a Christian Message
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10.
It is alarming to see how the Christian faith has been mocked at an event as significant as the Olympic Games, a platform that should symbolize unity and respect among cultures. The recent opening in Paris left a bitter taste for many believers when the organizing committee, in what seems to be a deliberately offensive act, decided to parody the Last Supper, one of the most sacred moments for Christians. The ensuing scandal was so intense that days later, Thomas Jelly, head of the event's organizing committee, tried to downplay the offense by describing it as a representation of a pagan festival honoring the Greek god Dionysus. This explanation only highlighted the lack of sensitivity toward the Christian faith, officially confirmed by one of its members.
Picture of the Opening Ceremony at the Olympics, which depicts The Last Supper.
However, the truly outrageous act came afterward. In what can only be described as a direct attack on freedom of expression, the French government decided to imprison a group of young people whose only "crime" was making their peaceful statement visible through a bus displaying the message "StopAttacksOnChristians.org". For many, this response was a shock, but it was deeply personal for me. Among those detained were my friends, fellow advocates in the defense of our values.
Picture of the bus in Paris before it was detained.
What was meant to be a simple and peaceful action—giving a voice to nearly 400,000 people who, through CitizenGO, signed a petition requesting an apology from the International Olympic Committee—turned into an episode of repression. The bus arrived in Paris at 9:00 a.m., and within hours, it had already caught the attention of many Parisians. Its driver, a humble man simply doing his job, was also detained along with my friends. As the afternoon approached, near the Arc de Triomphe, the police surrounded them. Surprised, the driver contacted the CitizenGO team, who quickly arrived to clarify the situation. Confident that it was just a simple misunderstanding, they agreed to accompany the officers to fill out some paperwork. What they didn't know was that they were about to be arrested.
Video of the team in Paris, on their way to be arrested. To see the full clip, click here.
Upon their arrival at the police station, they were informed that their detention was due to "holding a demonstration without a permit." Since when does a bus with stickers become an illegal demonstration? From that moment on, everything turned dark. Communication was cut off, and our team had to act quickly to find lawyers who could free them from this injustice. It wasn't until 4:00 a.m., after arduous legal negotiations, that they were finally released.
What they went through was a nightmare: all their belongings were confiscated, they were stripped and searched, and they were denied the basic right to contact their lawyers or families. All of this, under non-existent charges. They suffered psychological pressure, threats of prolonged detention, and spent the night in deplorable conditions, some even without food or water. All of this, for what? To silence a dissenting voice, to punish those who dare to speak out in defense of their faith.
The picture painted by this episode is deeply troubling. Not only because it violates freedom of expression and the free practice of religious beliefs, but because it reveals a dangerous trend toward institutionalized intolerance. When a government feels entitled to silence those who think differently in such a drastic way, the message is clear: there is no room for dissent. These kinds of actions are not just meant to intimidate but to impose a single narrative, excluding all who dare to challenge it. And it is precisely in this context that our resistance becomes more crucial than ever.
This incident is a wake-up call for all of us. It is a reminder that the fight for freedom, family, and life is far from over. We must stand firm, united, and continue defending our fundamental rights against any form of political or ideological persecution. Civic action is not just a right; it is an urgent necessity in times like these.
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