CV NEWS FEED // A Christian pastor was arrested and held in police custody for 13 hours after authorities said he was expressing views on Islam and affirming that sex is binary during a street preaching session near Bristol University in the UK, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) UK.
The Avon and Somerset territorial police force arrested Pastor Dia Moodley in March 2024, alleging that his comments might cause religious offense, particularly during the month of Ramadan. According to an October 10 press release by ADF, Moodley is now pursuing legal action against the police.
Despite being the victim of assault during the incident, Moodley was arrested on suspicion of “racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence” under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and Public Order Act 1986. After legal intervention from ADF UK, a faith-based legal advocacy group, the investigation was dropped. With their support, Moodley is now pursuing a formal complaint against the police over his treatment and the destruction of his property.
The incident began when a passerby questioned Moodley about his religious views. In response, the pastor contrasted the moral teachings of Christianity with those of Islam and affirmed his belief that God created people male and female. Shortly after, a bystander pushed Moodley off a small stepladder, while others grabbed and trampled on his signs, refusing to return them.
Police arriving at the scene arrested Moodley, claiming that his comments during Ramadan could be considered offensive. Meanwhile, no immediate action was taken against those who assaulted him or destroyed his property.
Following the arrest, police instructed staff at Bristol University to dispose of four of Moodley’s signs. One included Bible verses. The police later apologized privately for the destruction of the property.
In an email, one officer stated: “I’m sorry to advise that the signs were handed to the University of Bristol for disposal… I cannot comment as to why this decision was made (as I was not present at the time), but I would like to apologize on behalf of my colleagues.”
ADF UK confirmed that it will assist Moodley in pursuing legal action for “discriminatory treatment.” Moodley criticized the police response, calling it a case of “two-tier policing” in which certain ideologies are protected while others are silenced.
“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 said. “It shouldn’t be for the state to decide which religions and ideologies can or cannot be critiqued in public.”
“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,” he added.
Jeremiah Igunnubole, a barrister and legal counsel with ADF UK, asserted that Moodley was treated as a criminal despite being the victim of violence and harassment.
“Nobody should be subject to discriminatory treatment for peacefully sharing their core beliefs,” Igunnubole said. “Everyone must be treated equally under the law. In a democratic society, people must have the right to express their beliefs peacefully, even when those beliefs are controversial or challenge other religions and belief systems.”
Igunnubole urged the government to strengthen free speech protections to prevent similar incidents, calling on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to address growing censorship in the UK.
This is not the first time Pastor Moodley has faced opposition while preaching. In July, a confrontation with opponents went viral on X (formerly Twitter), drawing attention to the growing challenges faced by street preachers in the UK. One individual 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.”
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Avon and Somerset Police previously admitted that restrictions placed on Moodley, which prevented him from commenting on any religion except Christianity, were disproportionate. With the support of ADF UK, Moodley plans to continue his legal fight, seeking accountability for his treatment by police and the destruction of his signs.