A Christian pastor was recently arrested on allegations of “inciting religious hatred” after delivering a street sermon last November in Bristol, England. Now, he’s waiting to see if he’ll face any criminal charges, according to a legal advocacy group assisting him.
Reverend Dia Moodley, who is 58, spent eight hours in custody before being released on bail, which currently prevents him from returning to the city through the Christmas season.
Moodley is represented by ADF UK, an organization focused on advocating for religious freedom and free speech. They argue that his situation highlights a concerning trend in police actions that may threaten legitimate religious expression.
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Initially, the bail restrictions were eased, but in January, police contacted Moodley again, inviting him for a voluntary interview as investigations regarding the November event continued.
According to ADF UK, this isn’t Moodley’s first run-in with the law over street preaching. He had a previous altercation with police regarding his public remarks about other religions.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police addressed the situation, although they couldn’t confirm the individual’s identity based on the date and location mentioned. They noted: “A 58-year-old man was arrested at approximately 2:30 PM on Saturday, November 22, in Broadmead, Bristol, for suspicion of a public order offence related to assault.” He was later released on police bail until the end of December, prohibited from traveling to certain areas in the city. Those restrictions were eventually lifted in mid-December after a statement from the arrested individual.
The man is currently out on bail following early January investigations, and though a counterclaim has been filed, the inquiry is still ongoing. However, specific details concerning the alleged assault remain undisclosed.
The offenses mentioned by police align with the Public Order Act of 1986, which defines specific actions, including using threatening language, as potentially criminal when aimed at inciting religious hatred.
Sometimes, concerns arise about the potential for people to be held accountable for their social media activities, as noted by Marco Rubio, who worries about implications during a visit to Europe.
ADF International’s legal adviser, Jeremiah Ignebor, pointed out that Moodley’s arrest for “peacefully addressing topics like Islam and transgender ideology” suggests a troubling trend where the Public Order Act is being used in a way that resembles “de facto blasphemy laws” within the UK.
Ignebor claimed, “This isn’t an isolated case.” He emphasized that there’s a noticeable pattern of behavior from Avon and Somerset Police targeting Reverend Moodley for merely expressing his views publicly while neglecting the serious complaints against those who oppose his speech.
