A pastor has been arrested on suspicion of “inciting religious hatred” after delivering a street sermon. Pastor Dia Moodley, 58, was detained by police and held for eight hours for “commenting on Islam and transgender ideology“, according to his legal counsel. He was eventually released on bail conditions that temporarily prohibited him from entering Bristol during the Christmas period.

ADF UK, the British branch of the faith-based legal organisation Alliance Defending Freedom, is representing Moodley.

The group contends that the pastor’s case demonstrates a perceived wider trend of police action against lawful religious expression.

Legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole, said Moodley’s arrest for “peacefully commenting on Islam and transgender ideology” demonstrates police are using public order legislation to impose “de facto blasphemy laws” in the UK.

Following the incident in November, Avon and Somerset Police visited Moodley again in January, inviting him to attend a voluntary interview under caution.

This marks the second occasion Moodley has been arrested over his street preaching, ADF UK said.

It follows earlier disputes with police over restrictions imposed on his public comments about other religions.

Pastor Moodley said: “This latest arrest has had a profoundly negative effect on me and has been extremely challenging personally.

“I am a law-abiding citizen and it feels surreal that the police have criminalised me so harshly and repeatedly merely for peacefully expressing my Christian views in the public square.

“Unfortunately, I believe that the police view me, a Christian pastor, as an easy target and are afraid of others being offended by my lawful speech. This is two-tier policing in action.”

Avon and Somerset Police stated: “A 58-year-old man was arrested at about 2.30pm on Saturday 22 November in Broadmead, Bristol, on suspicion of assault by beating and of a racially/religiously aggravated public order offence.

“He was later released on police bail until the end of December, with a condition not to attend areas of Bristol city centre including Broadmead.

“These conditions however were ultimately lifted by a supervisory officer in mid-December following representations from the arrested man.”

The public order offence cited by officers falls under the Public Order Act 1986.

ADF International’s Legal Counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole commented: “Pastor Dia’s arrest for peacefully commenting on Islam and transgender ideology shows police are using public order legislation to impose de facto blasphemy laws in the UK.

“This is far from an isolated incident. It is part of a clear pattern of behaviour from Avon and Somerset Police, who for years have targeted Pastor Dia for his peaceful expression in the public square and have failed in their duty to investigate serious crimes committed against him, by those who objected to his speech.

“The police must stop their two-tier approach of criminalising lawful speech. There has long been a pressing need for Parliament to pass legislation to ensure the right to freedom of expression is robustly protected in this country.

“Pastor Dia’s case is all the more pressing as the government finalises its broad and ambiguous definition of ‘anti-Muslim hatred’, which risks censoring legitimate speech related to Islam.

“Pastor Dia’s case shows how authorities can misconstrue peaceful comments on Islam as ‘hateful’ and criminal.

“This misconstruction will be repeated unless clarity is provided to preserve the ability of citizens to peacefully comment, discuss and criticise in accordance with their core beliefs.”