In Britain, Protestant pastor detained for criticizing Islam
In British Watford, a Protestant pastor was detained after a sermon criticizing Islam, with witnesses questioning the grounds for arrest and police actions.
On April 25, 2026, in Great British Watford, police arrested a street preacher during a performance in the city center, reports the Daily Mail newspaper.
66-year-old Protestant pastor Steve Mile was preaching and singing Christian hymns in the center of Watford. During his performance, he also spoke about Islam and called on Muslims to turn to Christ.
After a few minutes, Hertfordshire police officers approached him, handcuffed him, and arrested him. The pastor was suspected of assault and breach of public order on the grounds of religious hatred. During the arrest, he stated that he had committed no crime and was simply preaching the Gospel.
Later, the charge of assaulting a teenager was dropped, but the investigation under the public order offense continues. Mile himself believes he was arrested for criticizing Islam.
Witnesses questioned the validity of the arrest. One woman stated that she filmed everything that happened and saw no assault. However, some passersby booed the pastor as he was being led away.
According to Mile, he spent about an hour and a half in handcuffs and experienced severe pain, after which he required medical assistance. In total, he was detained for 12 hours, and his family was not informed of his whereabouts for a long time.
The pastor's interests are represented by the Christian Legal Centre. They stated that this case raises questions about freedom of speech and attitudes toward Christian preaching in Great Britain.
Police reported that the man was released on bail, noting that witness testimonies differ. The investigation continues.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Britain banned entry to a US activist for criticizing Islam and migration.
