A UK pastor has faced multiple arrests and investigations for peacefully preaching the Gospel in public spaces, raising concerns about the suppression of Christian speech.
Pastor Dia Moodley, 58, has been arrested or threatened with arrest multiple times because of preaching the Gospel in the United Kingdom. On the day before Easter, Moodley took to the city center’s Broadmead Shopping Centre and spoke about the message of the Cross and Easter. It was the first time since his arrest last year that he did any peaceful street preaching, according to Bristol Live.
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Moodley is an immigrant but has lived in Bristol for 28 years. He says he considers it his home, and the U.K. is his nation. He has preached in that location for eight years and is also the pastor of Spirit of Life Reformed Baptist Church in Lockleaze. He noted that his focus is to compare Christianity with other religions in an “intellectual” and “academic” manner, and it’s not his intent to aim his message at anyone specific.
Nevertheless, Moodley has been arrested for street preaching in connection with speaking against Islam and transgender ideologies, according to Alliance Defending Freedom International.
“My experience as a Christian pastor, including the police questioning why I preach 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 U.K. in favor 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 neighbor. 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,” Moodley told the ADF.
He went on to note that “…the police’s line of questioning showed a clear two-tier bias in favor of Muslim and progressive beliefs, and against my Christian speech,” And that he considered public preaching, “…to be an essential part of my worship.”
He also pointed out that the U.K. doesn’t have Islamic or progressive blasphemy laws, yet the police censor him as though such laws exist.
Recently, Moodley has had the support of the White House in connection with his ministry and his preaching, yet his arrest charges last year included ‘inciting racial hatred,’ according to the Daily Mail.
Growing List of Christian Ministers Suffering Persecution in the U.K.
Christian street ministry in the U.K. has a long history of the people being receptive to it and of bringing about positive results, but that has changed over the past few years, according to Christian Concern.