Bristol Pastor Defies Police, Preaches Easter Gospel After Arrest for Quoting Bible on Islam and Trans Ideology

Bristol Pastor Dia Moodley Returns to Street Preaching at Easter Despite Threat of Re Arrest

Pastor Dia Moodley, a 58 year old Baptist minister, returned to street preaching in Bristol's Broadmead Shopping Centre on Saturday, April 4, to deliver an Easter message. It was his first public sermon in the city since his arrest more than four months earlier.

Moodley was arrested in November 2025 by Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of a "religiously aggravated" public order offence and "inciting religious hatred" under the Public Order Act 1986. The arrest followed his street preaching on the sex binary, transgender ideology, and a comparison of Christian theology with Islam.

He was held in a police cell for eight hours despite suffering from a heart condition. He was released under bail conditions that banned him from entering Bristol city centre over the Christmas period. Those conditions were later dropped after representations from his legal team.

On January 8, two officers visited his home. During a subsequent voluntary police interview, Moodley said he was asked why he preached in an area where Muslims would be present. He described this line of questioning as evidence of "two tier policing."

"I had fear in my heart returning to the streets, but I cannot be silent about the gospel of Jesus Christ."

That statement was attributed to Pastor Dia Moodley as he resumed preaching at Easter.

The Alliance Defending Freedom UK is supporting his case. Barrister Jeremiah Igunnubole said the investigation amounts to a modern blasphemy law being enforced against Christian speech.

"Causing offence is not a crime. This investigation represents a modern form of blasphemy law enforcement against Christian preaching."

That statement was made by Jeremiah Igunnubole of ADF UK. As of early April 2026, no charges have been brought against Moodley, and the police investigation remains ongoing.

UK Street Preacher Defies Police Investigation to Proclaim Easter Gospel in Bristol

Moodley had previously been arrested in March 2024 over similar street preaching, though that earlier investigation was dropped without charge. He told supporters he avoided preaching during Christmas out of fear of further police action, but felt compelled to proclaim the resurrection of Christ during Holy Week.

His case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing UK debate over free speech, religious liberty, and the policing of Christian witness in public spaces.

The Crusader's Opinion

A man with a heart condition was thrown in a cell for eight hours because he opened a Bible on a British high street. Eight hours. For preaching the same gospel that built Britain, the same gospel that ended the slave trade, the same gospel that made the rule of law possible in the first place. And the police had the audacity to ask him why he dared preach where Muslims could hear him. What a question. What if a Muslim cleric in Bristol were asked why he dared preach the Quran where Christians could hear him? There would be marches. There would be resignations. But a Christian pastor gets the cell. This is two tier policing wearing a uniform, and it is the modern blasphemy law that the Reformation was supposed to have killed forever. Pastor Moodley walked back into Broadmead anyway. That is courage. That is the spirit of the martyrs. Pray for him, because the next knock on his door may not be a warning.

Take Action

• Support The Shepherd's Shield, which defends persecuted Christians worldwide: www.TheShepherdsShield.org
• Donate to ADF UK, which is providing legal defense to Pastor Moodley: adfinternational.org/donate
• Contact Avon and Somerset Police and respectfully ask them to drop the investigation: 101 (UK) or avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact
• Write to your MP about the misuse of the Public Order Act 1986 against Christian street preachers: writetothem.com
• Support Christian Concern, which monitors UK religious liberty cases: christianconcern.com
• Pray for Pastor Dia Moodley, his family, and his church as they face ongoing intimidation