🧵This British street preacher has been attacked by violent mobs on several occasions.
Police never arrested the attackers. Instead they arrested & threatened the victim for “breaching the peace.”
Now he’s taking action against police—and @ADFIntl is supporting his case. 1/
Police never arrested the attackers. Instead they arrested & threatened the victim for “breaching the peace.”
Now he’s taking action against police—and @ADFIntl is supporting his case. 1/
The case of street preacher Dia Moodley is a shocking example of Britain’s two-tier policing.
In his open-air sermons on the streets of Bristol, Pastor Moodley often speaks about the differences between Christianity and other worldviews, including Islam. “I preach in public because I believe all people, including Muslims, need to know that Jesus Christ is ‘the way, and the truth, and the life,’” he says. “I always do so respectfully, out of love for my neighbour.”
But on several occasions, “progressive” and Muslim bystanders have tried to silence Pastor Moodley through intimidation and force. This spring, several men attacked him, knocking him from his short stepladder, pinning him to the ground, and trying to grab a copy of the Quran from his hand. One man repeatedly threatened to stab Pastor Moodley, including in the presence of police.
Finally, police intervened—but not to arrest the perpetrators for assault. Instead, they threatened the victim. Pastor Moodley was told he would be arrested for “breaching the peace.” 2/
In his open-air sermons on the streets of Bristol, Pastor Moodley often speaks about the differences between Christianity and other worldviews, including Islam. “I preach in public because I believe all people, including Muslims, need to know that Jesus Christ is ‘the way, and the truth, and the life,’” he says. “I always do so respectfully, out of love for my neighbour.”
But on several occasions, “progressive” and Muslim bystanders have tried to silence Pastor Moodley through intimidation and force. This spring, several men attacked him, knocking him from his short stepladder, pinning him to the ground, and trying to grab a copy of the Quran from his hand. One man repeatedly threatened to stab Pastor Moodley, including in the presence of police.
Finally, police intervened—but not to arrest the perpetrators for assault. Instead, they threatened the victim. Pastor Moodley was told he would be arrested for “breaching the peace.” 2/
It wouldn’t have been the first time. Last year, following a similar assault by a bystander who objected to his preaching on topics including the differences between Christianity and Islam, Pastor Moodley was the only person arrested—on suspicion of committing “racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence.” They held him in a police cell for 13 hours.
Prior to this incident, police had tried to forbid Pastor Moodley from “passing comments on any other religion.” But they backed down after a legal challenge supported by ADF International and Free Speech Union. 3/
Prior to this incident, police had tried to forbid Pastor Moodley from “passing comments on any other religion.” But they backed down after a legal challenge supported by ADF International and Free Speech Union. 3/
The pattern is clear. Rather than upholding the British legal tradition of peaceful free expression and religious pluralism, these local authorities are bending over backwards to appease the illiberal demands—and violent behavior—of a totalitarian belief system thoroughly at odds with the West.
In short: they are misusing public order legislation to create de facto “blasphemy laws” in the British public square.
This should be deeply troubling to every British citizen. In a free and democratic society, police should protect innocent people like Pastor Moodley from crime, not side with the mob. 4/
In short: they are misusing public order legislation to create de facto “blasphemy laws” in the British public square.
This should be deeply troubling to every British citizen. In a free and democratic society, police should protect innocent people like Pastor Moodley from crime, not side with the mob. 4/
@ADFIntl is helping Pastor Moodley bring a complaint against Avon and Somerset Police for their wrongful treatment—and for failing to promptly investigate serious crimes against him.
We’re also urging lawmakers to repeal censorial legislation and introduce stronger protections for free speech in the UK. 5/
We’re also urging lawmakers to repeal censorial legislation and introduce stronger protections for free speech in the UK. 5/
If free speech is lost, all other liberty will soon follow.
For more, read this exclusive from @GBNEWS. /🧵
gbnews.com/news/christian…
For more, read this exclusive from @GBNEWS. /🧵
gbnews.com/news/christian…
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