A Christian pastor in Britain found himself behind bars after making comments about Islam and the binary nature of sex while street preaching outside Bristol University during Ramadan.
Strike one: Saying something that does not praise Islam.
Strike two: Stating biological facts.
Strike three: Being British and thinking something that goes against the current narrative.
Pastor was responding to a question from a Muslim passerby when he mentioned that the moral standards of the God of Islam and the Christian God were, in his view, different.
He also preached that God created humans as male and female and that this truth should not be denied.
Shocking stuff, I know...
In Britain, saying things like this will only lead to trouble.
According to the group backing Moodley, the Alliance Defending Freedom, the arrest happened in March after Moodley was reportedly pushed off his stepladder and a sign was snatched from his hands.
Moodley was then arrested and held for 13 hours by Avon and Somerset Police.
Apparently, four of his signs ended up with Bristol University staff, who trashed them. The police have since apologized for the disposal of the signs, and ADF UK is helping the pastor file a complaint.
An officer wrote in an email to Moodley: 'I'm sorry to advise that the signs were handed to ... the UoB [University of Bristol] for them to dispose of. I cannot comment as to why this decision was made (as I was not present at the time), however I would like to apologize on behalf of my colleagues. ... Again, I am sincerely sorry.'
Moodley is calling out the "two-tier policing" which has been villainizing Christians in the U.K. for years now.
It shouldn't be for the state to decide which religions and ideologies must not be discussed or critiqued in the public street. The result is the normalization of a two-tier society where some beliefs and ideologies are valued and protected, while others are undermined and outlawed.
The world is looking at the dismal state of free speech in the U.K. with shock. What happened to me reflects a wider trend of increasing state censorship in the U.K. and across the West.
According to ADF UK, Avon and Somerset Police previously admitted they were out of line when they restricted Moodley from "passing comments on any other religion" besides Christianity. The ADF argued that the restriction was "disproportionate."
Jeremiah Igunnubole, a barrister for ADF UK, said they were glad the police dropped their investigation into the pastor, but it seems the legal battle is far from over.
But the 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 should 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 must be treated equally under the law. Freedom of speech cannot be the preserve of those expressing socially progressive ideals. In a democratic society, everyone must have the right to peacefully express their core beliefs, even when those beliefs are considered controversial or criticize other religions and belief systems.
The U.K. has fallen.
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
