Preacher wins compensation after wrongful arrest
In London people are been stabbed and shot on a daily basis, but this is how the Met decide to spend their time: arresting Christian preachers.
A Christian preacher has been awarded a compensation payment of £2,500 after his Christian views and driven four miles away by police officers in a wrongful arrest.
Oluwole Ilesanmi aged 64 was accused of being Islamophobia when he was preaching outside Southgate Tube station in London in February of 2019.
At the time Ilesanmi was arrested I published an article titled ‘OUTRAGE as Christian preacher ARRESTED by Police for being ‘Islamophobic’’ this article racked up over 11,324 shares showing just how outraged of the British public.
The incident was caught on tape and has been shared by countless social media accounts and has been seen by millions of people.
In the video, a police officer takes his bible away as another officer says: “You should’ve thought about that before being racist.” He was then driven miles away and suddenly de-arrested. The Met police claim to have offered the preacher a lift back to the station again after removing him.
Scotland Yard has admitted its officers’ wrongdoings and has agreed to pay Mr Ilesanmi £2,500 for wrongful arrest and his humiliating and distressing treatment.
A Met spokesman said: “The Met respects and upholds the rights of all individuals to practise freedom of speech, and this includes street preachers of all religions and backgrounds.
“However, if the language someone uses is perceived as being a potential hate crime, it is only right that we investigate.
“In this case, it was deemed appropriate to remove the man from the area.”
The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), who championed Mr Ilesanmi’s case, has demanded the Home Secretary investigate guidance and training given to police officers nationwide on the freedom to preach in public. On Tuesday Mr Ilesanmi will deliver a petition demanding such to the Home Secretary, the petition has over 38,000 signatures.
Mr Ilesanmi said: “I am glad that the police have recognised that it was not right to arrest me for preaching from the Bible.
“It was traumatic being arrested and left many miles from my home. But God was always with me and even though I was left in a place I did not know, I was determined to get back to Southgate and start preaching the gospel again.”
The Met Police should come out appologise properly and respect the judgement of the court, not make excuses!
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