A Christian pastor was arrested and detained for 13 hours by Avon and Somerset Police after street preaching about Christianity and Islam during Ramadan.
Dia Moodley, a grandfather, was believed to have been assaulted by a member of the public before being taken into custody in Bristol.
The incident occurred when Moodley contrasted the two religions in response to a question from a Muslim man.
Police later apologised for instructing university staff to dispose of Moodley’s signs, one of which contained Bible text.
A Christian pastor was arrested and detained for 13 hours by Avon and Somerset Police after street preaching about Christianity and Islam during RamadanADF UK
In an email to Moodley, an officer stated: “I’m sorry to advise that the signs were handed to the University of Bristol] for them to dispose of.
“I cannot comment as to why this decision was made (as I was not present at the time), however I would like to apologise on behalf of my colleagues.”
With support from ADF UK, a faith-based legal advocacy organisation, Moodley is now pursuing a complaint against the police for his treatment.
The incident unfolded when Moodley, while preaching, expressed his views on the differences between the moral standards of the Islamic and Christian God.
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He also stated his belief that God created humans as male and female.
Later, an unknown individual is understood to have pushed Moodley from his stepladder, while another snatched his sign, causing him to sustain an injury. Three young people then trampled on his sign and refused to return it.
Moodley was arrested by police shortly for the views he had shared.
The arresting officer noted that Moodley’s comments were made during Ramadan.
Avon and Somerset Police arrested Moodley on suspicion of committing racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence under Section 31(1)(c) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
The investigation into Moodley was dropped after legal representations were made to the police with ADF UK’s support.
Moodley is now pursuing a complaint against the police for his treatment, including the destruction of his signs.
He said: “Two-tier policing is sadly not a fiction or some conspiracy theory, it’s a reality that Christians in the UK have been experiencing for years.”
He added: “It shouldn’t be for the state to decide which religions and ideologies must not be discussed or critiqued in the public street.
“The world is looking at the dismal state of free speech in the UK with shock. What happened to me reflects a wider trend of increasing state censorship in the UK and across the West.”
The incident unfolded when Moodley, while preaching, expressed his views on the differences between the moral standards of the Islamic and Christian God
ADF UK
Barrister Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, said: “We are glad Avon and Somerset Police dropped their investigation into Pastor Dia.
“But the fact that he was arrested, held in police custody for 13 hours, and had his property destroyed with the encouragement of Avon and Somerset police is objectively appalling.
“Freedom of speech cannot be the preserve of those expressing socially progressive ideals.”
He added: “Christians in the UK have long suffered from two-tier policing simply for living out and sharing their Biblical beliefs. This should alarm anyone concerned with free speech, religious freedom, and the protection of democracy.”
GB News has approached Avon and Somerset Police for comment.
