Police have been criticised after an incident wherein Muslims allegedly intimidated and assaulted a Christian preacher who was discussing Islam. It is alleged that the police threatened to arrest the preacher reasonably than those he said were threatening him.
The incident occurred in Bristol when Pastor Dia Moodley was preaching in town centre. Moodley was talking in regards to the differences between Islam and Christianity and was holding a Quran as he did so.
In response, he says a Muslim bystander threatened to stab him, while one other tried to punch his wife. Moodley said he was then pinned to the bottom by the Muslims, and that they tried to steal his Quran on the grounds that it was their book reasonably than his.
According to legal advocacy group, ADF International, which is supporting Moodley, when the police appeared, they did nothing to reprimand the Muslims, and the person who made the stabbing threats allegedly continued to threaten him within the presence of the police.
ADF said that on two occasions law enforcement officials told Moodley that he might be arrested for “public order offences”.
Eventually the incident was defused when a senior inspector arrived on the scene and told Moodley that he wouldn’t be arrested.
Moodley has filed a grievance against Avon and Somerset Police over the incident.
He said, “I preach in public because I think all people, including Muslims, must know that Jesus Christ is ‘the way in which, and the reality, and the life’. I at all times accomplish that respectfully, out of affection for my neighbour.
“Unfortunately, on this occasion a bunch of Muslim men objected to my preaching and reacted with violence. It’s shocking that the police initially said I had breached the peace. This shows yet again that two-tier policing, which targets the expression of Christians, is a reality in modern-day Britain.”
Lorcán Price, a barrister with ADF, said that the incident was evidence of “de facto blasphemy laws” getting used in Britain to “goal Christian expression, through public order and other laws”.
“All in favour of free speech must support repealing censorial laws and introducing stronger protections for freedom of expression within the UK,” he said.
“Otherwise, innocent people like Pastor Moodley can be forced out of the general public square or face unjust criminalisation for his or her peaceful expression.”
Avon and Somerset Police said: “Officers attended a public disturbance in Broadmead, Bristol, on March 22, 2025, wherein a preacher reported he had been threatened.”
They continued: “A crowd of individuals gathered and was dispersed by officers, and the preacher was advised to stop and leave the world as a precaution.
“An investigation has since been carried out and a person, in his 20s, attended a voluntary police interview in July, after which it was decided no further motion could be taken.
“This was communicated to the preacher on July 22, in addition to their rights to submit a victim’s right to review (VRR) if not satisfied with the choice.
“The following day, they submitted a VRR, which was assessed by a Chief Inspector, who determined on July 27 the case ought to be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service to contemplate a charging decision. The process is ongoing and due to this fact this stays a live police investigation.”
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