BRISTOL (16 May 2026) – Police have dropped the criminal investigation into a Christian pastor who was arrested for commenting on Islam and transgender ideology while street preaching in Bristol city centre, in a free speech win. 

After more than four months of criminal investigation, Avon & Somerset Police informed Pastor Dia Moodley, 58, that “no further action will be taken”, following the pastor’s arrest for his peaceful preaching in Broadmead last November. ADF International supported the pastor’s legal defence.  

Pastor Moodley was subjected to arrest, eight hours in a police cell, a police visit to his home, interrogation at the police station and the initial imposition of bail conditions that banned him from entering and therefore preaching in Bristol city centre over Christmas.  

Although the bail conditions were dropped, following Pastor Moodley’s representations to the police, the ongoing criminal investigation resulted in de facto censorship, as the pastor refrained from publicly preaching over Christmas and in the weeks leading to Easter, due to the risk of rearrest if he engaged in street preaching while the investigation continued. 

The pastor was arrested on November 22, 2025, for peacefully sharing his Christian views in the public square, on suspicion of “inciting religious hatred” and committing a Section 4A religiously aggravated public order offence under the Public Order Act 1986.  

That was the second time Avon and Somerset Police have arrested the pastor for commenting on Islam and transgender ideology while street preaching. After his first arrest in March 2024, the police also dropped their investigation. 

The pastor has faced repeated violence and threats from bystanders while street preaching, many of which the police have failed to adequately address.  

Most recently, the pastor was threatened by a Muslim man who disagreed with his preaching on the day before Easter. 

On Saturday April 4, while the criminal investigation into him was still ongoing, Pastor Moodley preached in Broadmead about Jesus Christ’s resurrection. He spoke about how when Jesus is compared with figures from all other religions, including Mohammed, it was only Jesus who rose from the dead.

The pastor said: “Krishna, Buddha, Mohammed and your favourite philosopher did not rise from the dead, only Jesus rose from the dead.” 

A Muslim bystander said he heard the “disgusting” things the pastor said about the “[Islamic] prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him”. The man can be heard on camera saying: “If you do that again bro, we’ll send the boys round… we’ll have someone have a word with you.” 

The pastor criminally reported the man to Avon & Somerset Police, but officers shockingly refused to investigate the incident, telling the pastor on 1 May: “Comments made to you whilst unpleasant that do not constitute an offence [sic].” 

Police said “we cannot sure the context of his comments [sic]” and that “the report will be filed insufficient evidence to proceed at this time”, despite the fact that the threat—which the pastor perceived to be a threat of violence—was captured on camera.  

April 4 was the first day the pastor had publicly preached since his arrest, as the then-ongoing criminal investigation effectively censored his public preaching for months, due to the risk of rearrest.  

He decided to preach on the day before Easter despite the risk, as he felt it was his duty as a Christian pastor called to street preaching. Police did not attend on that occasion, unlike in the past, and many members of the public, both Christian and non-Christian, who had seen news of the pastor’s case, were supportive and offered encouragement. 

The police informed Pastor Moodley they had dropped their criminal investigation on April 8.  

Pastor Moodley is now consulting with his legal team about taking legal action against Avon & Somerset Police, for the violation of his free speech rights and for the police’s failure to promptly investigate serious crimes against him.  

Pastor Dia Moodley said: 

“I’m glad Avon and Somerset Police decided to eventually do the right thing and drop their criminal investigation. This is a win for free speech, but I never should have been arrested, treated like a criminal, and investigated for months for peacefully sharing my faith in the public square. 

“Avon and Somerset Police have arrested me twice because my lawful speech was seen as offensive to some Muslims and people with a progressive worldview. Meanwhile, the police have shockingly failed to investigate violence and threats against me, committed by those who object to my speech. This is the definition of two-tier policing and must end.    

“What has happened to this country, that police ignore clearly criminal incidents like this most recent one—which I perceived to be a threat of violence—and choose instead to criminalise Christian speech? I am now consulting with my legal team about taking legal action against Avon and Somerset Police, for the violation of my rights. 

“I will continue to share my faith publicly, undeterred by the police’s censorship and the threats and violence I have faced, and will stand for free speech not just for myself, but for the rights of all people in the UK.” 

Barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International Jeremiah Igunnubole commented: 

“Avon and Somerset Police’s decision to drop their investigation is a vindication of Pastor Dia’s lawful conduct. He has been repeatedly arrested, imprisoned, and told that expressing his Christian views is a criminal matter. On every occasion, he has challenged this state overreach and prevailed.  

“It is deeply troubling, however, that police treated Pastor Dia’s constructive comments on Islam and gender ideology—remarks which were made in good faith, were an expression of his core Christian beliefs and which explicitly invited dialogue—as a criminal matter, while dismissing a clear and dangerous threat made against him by a Muslim bystander as merely an ‘unpleasant’ incident.  

“This two-tier approach to policing inevitably produces unjust and discriminatory outcomes. It can only be addressed by repealing the underlying censorial legislation and renewed efforts to retrain ideologically motivated police forces who too often find themselves unable or unwilling to differentiate between a lawful exercise of fundamental rights and actual violent criminality.  

“The war of attrition against free speech in the UK, demonstrated in Pastor Dia’s case, must end. Censorial laws need to be repealed urgently, and stronger protections, including a Free Speech Bill, are needed to reverse the growing culture of censorship within law enforcement.  

“We remain fully committed to standing with Pastor Dia as he considers legal action against the police for these violations of his rights and their failure to protect him from serious crime.” 

Read more about Pastor Moodley’s arrest last November here. Read more about the past censorship he has faced here.