A Christian street preacher was arrested on suspicion of 'inciting religious hatred' after he delivered a sermon 'on Islam and transgender ideology'.
Dia Moodley's legal counsel ADF UK, which is part of faith-based legal organisation Alliance Defending Freedom, said the 58-year-old pastor was detained for eight hours in November last year.
The group argues that the pastor's case reflects what it describes as a broader pattern of police action that risks criminalising lawful religious expression.
He was released on bail conditions that temporarily barred him from entering Bristol during the Christmas period.
His legal counsel, Jeremiah Igunnubole, said Moodley's arrest for 'peacefully commenting on Islam and transgender ideology' shows police are using public order legislation to impose 'de facto blasphemy laws' in Britain.
After the incident in November, Avon and Somerset Police visited Moodley again in January and invited him to attend a voluntary interview under caution.
This is the second time Moodley has been arrested, with the street preacher facing police action in March 2024.
It follows previous disputes with police over restrictions placed on his public comments about other religions.
Christian street preacher Dia Moodley, 58, was arrested on suspicion of 'inciting religious hatred' after he delivered a sermon 'on Islam and transgender ideology'
Mr Moodley's legal counsel, ADF UK, said the 58-year-old pastor was detained for eight hours in November last year
Pastor Moodley said: 'This latest arrest has had a profoundly negative effect on me and has been extremely challenging personally.
'I am a law-abiding citizen and it feels surreal that the police have criminalised me so harshly and repeatedly merely for peacefully expressing my Christian views in the public square.
'Unfortunately, I believe that the police view me, a Christian pastor, as an easy target and are afraid of others being offended by my lawful speech. This is two-tier policing in action.'
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'A 58-year-old man was arrested at about 2.30pm on Saturday 22 November in Broadmead, Bristol, on suspicion of assault by beating and of a racially/religiously aggravated public order offence.
'He was later released on police bail until the end of December, with a condition not to attend areas of Bristol city centre, including Broadmead.
'These conditions, however, were ultimately lifted by a supervisory officer in mid-December following representations from the arrested man.'
The public order offence referenced by police falls under the Public Order Act 1986.
This is the second time Moodley has been arrested over his street preaching, according to ADF UK, which is the British arm of the faith-based legal organisation Alliance Defending Freedom
Mr Igunnubole said: 'This is far from an isolated incident. It is part of a clear pattern of behaviour from Avon and Somerset Police, who for years have targeted Pastor Dia for his peaceful expression in the public square and have failed in their duty to investigate serious crimes committed against him, by those who objected to his speech.
'The police must stop their two-tier approach of criminalising lawful speech. There has long been a pressing need for Parliament to pass legislation to ensure the right to freedom of expression is robustly protected in this country.
'Pastor Dia's case is all the more pressing as the government finalises its broad and ambiguous definition of "anti-Muslim hatred", which risks censoring legitimate speech related to Islam.
'Pastor Dia's case shows how authorities can misconstrue peaceful comments on Islam as 'hateful' and criminal.
'This misconstruction will be repeated unless clarity is provided to preserve the ability of citizens to peacefully comment, discuss and criticise in accordance with their core beliefs.'
