To treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect or contempt.
Desecration (also called desacralization or desanctification) is the act of depriving something of its sacred character, or the disrespectful or contemptuous treatment of that which is held to be sacred or holy by a group or individual.

Many consider acts of desecration to be sacrilegious acts. 
This can include desecration of sacred books, sacred places or sacred objects for the sake of insulting and weakening the faith and trust in God which governs a certain Religion.

For example: the Geek empire in the year tried to force the Jews to sacrifice a pig (and eat pork) in their holy temple, that is the reason why a war broke between Judah the maccabees and the Greeks.

The Roman empire (Catholic church) using the name of Jesus and the art of desecration containing Jesus with images of male private parts etc.