A Christian pastor in Britain has spent eight hours in a police cell and is now facing a four-month criminal investigation — all for peacefully preaching the Gospel in the public square.
Last November, Bristol-based Pastor, Dia Moodley, was arrested while street preaching in the city centre. His alleged offence? Expressing his Christian beliefs about Islam and transgender ideology while speaking to passers-by.
Months later, his ordeal continues.
In March, Pastor Dia felt compelled to attend a police interview under caution, due to the risk of arrest if he did not cooperate. During the interrogation, officers from Avon and Somerset Police asked questions, which indicated ideological bias and a failure to understand basic Christian beliefs.
For example, according to Pastor Dia, the police asked why he preached in an area where he knew Muslims would be present, suggesting there is no right to free speech in such areas. In reality, Pastor Dia was preaching to everyone present in Bristol's city centre.
Also, according to the pastor, most of the police questions focused on his comments on transgender ideology, and the police asked whether he should criticise the ideology as a Christian.
Shockingly, this is the second time Avon and Somerset Police have arrested the pastor for his peaceful speech. In March 2024, he was arrested for the same reason — commenting on Islam and transgender ideology while street preaching. The police investigation was later dropped.
But the damage caused by the current investigation has already been significant.
Due to the risk of further arrest, Pastor Dia felt unable to preach publicly over Christmas and in the weeks leading up to Easter — a time when sharing the Gospel is especially meaningful.
Only this past Easter weekend did he return to the streets to preach again, believing it was his duty as a Christian pastor.
Pastor Dia said: “My experience as a Christian pastor, including the police questioning why I preached in an area where I supposedly knew Muslims would be present, undoubtedly shows there is a real risk of authorities allowing Christianity to be pushed out of public spaces in the UK in favour of allowing Islam or other beliefs to dominate.
“I did not ‘target’ anyone with my speech. I merely preached the Gospel to all people out of love for God and my neighbour. For the police to suggest I cannot do this in areas where Muslims are present sets a very dangerous precedent for free speech.
“Avon and Somerset police have subjected me to an arrest, eight hours in a police cell and a four-month long ongoing criminal investigation for peacefully expressing my views in the public square.
“During an interview under caution, which I only attended because of the risk of further arrest if I did not, the police’s line of questioning showed a clear two-tier bias in favour of Muslim and progressive beliefs, and against my Christian speech.
“The process truly has become the punishment for me.
“I consider public preaching to be an essential part of my worship, which the police have de facto inhibited, due to their investigation. There are no Islamic or progressive blasphemy laws in this country, and yet time and time again the police have censored me as if there are. The police should drop this investigation and refrain from censoring me again in the future.”
The police’s suggestion, in their questioning of Pastor Dia, that the right to free speech does not extend to public spaces where Muslims are present is totally antithetical to the tradition of liberty in Great Britain and the equality of all people under the law.
Bristol city centre is not a Muslim area or a progressive area in which those worldviews cannot be criticised. Every area in Britain is subject to the rule of law, which includes the protection of the right to freedom of speech. Permitting one group to have a veto over another undermines the principle of equality under the law and reintroduces blasphemy laws through the back door.
The mere fact that others are offended by expression does not make that expression a crime. Pastor Dia’s fight against censorship and two-tier policing in this case is a battle for the free speech rights of all people in this country.
With the legal support of ADF UK, Pastor Dia is considering legal action against the police for violating his free speech rights. To challenge censorship and support individuals like him, we rely on the generosity of people like you.
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