Christian street preacher injured by assailant and arrested by police
Christian pastor Dia Moodley was arrested and detained for 13 hours by Avon and Somerset Police after preaching about Christianity and Islam outside Bristol University during Ramadan in March.
The incident occurred when Moodley, in response to a question from a Muslim, contrasted the moral teachings of Christianity and Islam and affirmed his belief that God created human beings as male and female. An unknown assailant then allegedly threw him off a stepladder, while another person grabbed one of his signs, injuring him, and then three people stomped on him and refused to leave.
The police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested him for his views, despite the alleged assault. The arresting officer noted that Moodley's comments could cause religious offence, particularly during the month of Ramadan. He was held in custody in Bristol for 13 hours, but no immediate action was taken against those who assaulted him or destroyed his property. Following his arrest, the police ordered Bristol University staff to remove four of Moodley's signs. One of the signs displayed Bible verses.
Moodley criticised the police response for protecting certain ideologies while silencing others. "Two-tier policing is sadly not an invention or a conspiracy theory - it is a reality that Christians in the UK have experienced for years," he said. "The state should not decide which religions and ideologies can and cannot be criticised in public. The world looks on in shock at the dismal state of freedom of expression in the UK. What happened to me reflects a wider trend of increasing state censorship in the UK and across the West," he added.
Moodley is now taking legal action against the police, according to an October 10 press release from ADF International, which is supporting his case. His lawyer, Jeremiah Igunnubole, claims that Moodley has been treated like a criminal, despite being the victim of violence and harassment: "In a democratic society, people must have the right to peacefully express their beliefs, even if those beliefs are controversial or challenge other religions and belief systems."
This is not the first time Pastor Moodley has faced opposition during a sermon. In July, he was confronted by opponents, highlighting the growing problems facing street preachers in the UK. One of those involved in the incident later posted a video boasting about the intimidation, with an Antifa flag in the background, saying: "I don't regret it." Police in Avon and Somerset had previously imposed restrictions on Moodley preventing him from making "comments about any religion" other than Christianity, but later lifted them as "disproportionate".
Source: catholic vote, gb news, express
Picture: ADF International