UK Pastor Arrested and Jailed for Preaching the Bible on the Street: 'De Facto Blasphemy Laws'
Pastor Dia Moodley arrested twice by UK police for preaching about Islam and transgender ideology. ADF warns of de facto blasphemy laws in Britain.
UK Pastor Dia Moodley Arrested Twice for Street Preaching About Islam and Transgender Ideology in Bristol
Pastor Dia Moodley, 58, was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police on November 22, 2025, while street preaching in the Broadmead area of Bristol, England. Officers detained him on suspicion of inciting religious hatred under the Public Order Act 1986 and assault by beating after he made comments about Islam and transgender ideology.
Moodley had been peacefully preaching about the reality of biological sex and the theology of Christianity compared to other religions, including Islam. During the day, he had a respectful conversation with three young Muslim women. A couple later objected to his views on transgender ideology, and the woman called the police.
Two officers arrived and focused solely on the accounts of bystanders who objected to the pastor's preaching. Moodley, who suffers from a heart condition, was held in a police cell for eight hours before being released on bail with conditions banning him from entering Bristol city centre through late December, effectively preventing him from preaching during the Christmas period.
I am a law abiding citizen and it feels surreal that the police have criminalised me so harshly merely for peacefully expressing my Christian views.
Pastor Dia Moodley said in a statement following his release.
The bail conditions were lifted in mid December after he made representations to police. On January 8, 2026, officers visited his home and invited him to a voluntary interview under caution. He remains under investigation but is no longer formally on bail.
This marks the second time Avon and Somerset Police have arrested Moodley for street preaching. In March 2025, he was arrested while preaching about the differences between Christianity and Islam while holding a Quran. During that incident, bystanders physically assaulted him, yet no charges were filed against them.
Alliance Defending Freedom Warns of De Facto Blasphemy Laws in the UK After Pastor's Arrest
The Alliance Defending Freedom UK is now providing legal support to Pastor Moodley, who is considering legal action against the police for violating his free speech rights.
Police are using public order legislation to impose de facto blasphemy laws in the UK. This is far from an isolated incident.
Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for ADF UK, warned.
Igunnubole added that the situation could worsen if the government introduces its controversial definition of "anti Muslim hatred," which ADF warns could lead to even more arrests of Christians peacefully expressing their faith in public.
Moodley himself stated that police view him as "an easy target" and are "afraid of others being offended." He awaits a decision on whether he will face criminal charges for his peaceful speech.
The Crusader's Opinion
Let this sink in. In the United Kingdom, a Christian pastor was arrested, handcuffed, thrown in a cell for eight hours, and banned from his own city centre during Christmas, all for the crime of speaking the truth in public. Meanwhile, the people who physically assaulted him walked free without a single charge.
This is what de facto blasphemy law looks like in a so called free society. You can say whatever you want, unless it offends the approved classes. Ask yourself: what would happen to a Muslim preacher in London who criticized Christianity? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The double standard is not just glaring, it is deliberate.
The West is sleepwalking into the silencing of its own faith while bending the knee to every ideology that demands submission. If we do not stand up now and defend the right of every Christian to speak biblical truth without fear of arrest, we will lose that right entirely. And we will deserve it.
Take Action
- Support Pastor Dia Moodley's legal defense by visiting ADF International's case page and sharing his story on social media.
- Contact the UK Home Office to oppose the proposed definition of "anti Muslim hatred" that could criminalize Christian speech: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
- Write to your Member of Parliament to defend free speech and religious liberty in the UK. Find your MP at members.parliament.uk
- Support organizations defending persecuted Christians worldwide: www.TheShepherdsShield.org
- Support Open Doors UK in their mission to strengthen persecuted believers across the globe.
