Pastor arrested after commenting on Islam and biological sex

A Christian pastor was arrested after he made comments about Islam and the binary nature of sex while street preaching outside Bristol University.

In response to a matter from a Muslim member of the general public, Dia Moodley said he believed there have been differences between the moral standards of the God of Islam and the Christian God.

During his preaching he also expressed the idea that God made humans female and male and that this truth shouldn’t be denied.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF UK), which is supporting Mr Moodley, said he was arrested and detained for 13 hours by Avon and Somerset Police in March. 

The organisation said that Mr Moodley was pushed off his short stepladder and had an indication snatched from his hands, before being arrested by attending officers.

Four of his signs were handed to staff at Bristol University, who disposed of them under the instruction of the officers. 

Reacting to the incident, Mr Moodley said: “Two-tier policing is unfortunately not a fiction or some conspiracy theory, it is a reality that Christians within the UK have been experiencing for years.

“It should not be for the state to make your mind up which religions and ideologies must not be discussed or critiqued in the general public street. The result’s the normalisation of a two-tier society where some beliefs and ideologies are valued and guarded, while others are undermined and outlawed.

“The world is taking a look at the dismal state of free speech within the UK with shock. What happened to me reflects a wider trend of accelerating state censorship within the UK and across the West.”

ADF UK is supporting Mr Moodley in pursuing a grievance against Avon and Somerset Police. He has already received an apology for the disposal of his signs. 

An officer wrote in an email to Mr Moodley: “I’m sorry to advise that the signs were handed to… the UoB [University of Bristol] for them to get rid of.

“I cannot comment as to why this decision was made (as I used to be not present on the time), nonetheless I would really like to apologise on behalf of my colleagues …

“Again, I’m sincerely sorry that this motion [sic].”

ADF UK described Avon and Somerset Police’s actions as surprising, noting that that they had previously settled with Mr Moodley after admitting that restrictions stopping him from “passing comments on some other religion” besides Christianity were “disproportionate”. 

Barrister and legal counsel for ADF UK, Jeremiah Igunnubole said: “We are glad Avon and Somerset Police dropped their investigation into Pastor Dia.

“But the incontrovertible fact that he was arrested, held in police custody for 13 hours, and had his property destroyed with the encouragement of Avon and Somerset police is objectively appalling. Nobody must be subject to discriminatory treatment for peacefully and lawfully sharing their core beliefs.

“In this case, Pastor Dia was himself a victim of crime, including assault, aggressive harassment and criminal damage and yet, perversely, he was the one treated as a criminal for peacefully exercising his fundamental rights.

“Everyone should be treated equally under the law. Freedom of speech can’t be the preserve of those expressing socially progressive ideals. In a democratic society, everyone should have the best to peacefully express their core beliefs, even when those beliefs are considered controversial or criticise other religions and belief systems.”