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Petition launched to protect free speech after street preacher’s arrest goes viral
Source: Christianity Today
A petition calling for the protection of free speech in Britain has been launched after video footage of a street preacher being arrested went viral.
Oluwole Ilesanmi has since been released and no further action is being taken against him by police but his arrest outside Southgate tube station in London has raised questions about free speech rights.
He was arrested over a ‘breach of the peace’ after a member of the public told police that he was making ‘Islamophobic’ comments.
The actions of the arresting officers were defended in a statement from the Borough Commander sent to David Burrowes, former MP for Enfield Southgate and co-founder of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.
‘Officers attempted to speak with the man to explain why they had been called and advised him that he should leave the area. The man refused to leave and a decision was made to arrest him in order to prevent a breach of the peace,’ the statement said.
A Christian preacher this afternoon was arrested at Southgate station London N14 for preaching about Jesus . @CConcern the police told him it’s because public had said he was being islamophobic . We have the full video and wondered when preaching was now illegal ? @Campaign4T pic.twitter.com/ZxC1DhlZCf
— EyeOnAntisemitism (@AntisemitismEye) February 23, 2019
The Muslim Times’ Chief Editor’s comments:
The video above shows the moment of his arrest, but, we do not have the video when he made the Islamophobic comments.
What is not reasonable to say against the Jews should be irreasonable to say against the Muslims. Let us try to find the parallels between Antisemitism and Islamophobia. Suggested reading:
Free Speech: Fake News, Hate Speech and Blasphemy?
Draw Mohammed Day: Free Speech Or Hate?
What Should be the Punishment of Salman Rushdie?
Freedom of Speech: A Core Islamic Value!
Believing in the Blasphemy Laws is ‘the Real Blasphemy’: But, There is No Worldly Punishment
Blasphemy in Islam: The Quran does not prescribe punishment for abusing the Prophet
Shariah and Freedom of Speech and Expression
Examining Both Sides: Freedom of Speech and Its Limitations?
Categories: Anti-Semitism, Collection of articles, Europe and Australia, Free Speech, hate speech, Islamophobia, UK