Christian preachers face arrest in Birmingham
By David Harrison

Last Updated: 7:56AM BST 02/06/2008

A police community support officer ordered two Christian preachers to 
stop handing out gospel leaflets in a predominantly Muslim area of 
Birmingham.

The evangelists say they were threatened with arrest for committing a 
"hate crime" and were told they risked being beaten up if they returned. 
The incident will fuel fears that "no-go areas" for Christians are 
emerging in British towns and cities, as the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, 
the Bishop of Rochester, claimed in The Sunday Telegraph this year.

Arthur Cunningham, 48, and Joseph Abraham, 65, both full-time 
evangelical ministers, have launched legal action against West Midlands 
Police, claiming the officer infringed their right to profess their 
religion.

Mr Abraham said: "I couldn't believe this was happening in Britain. The 
Bishop of Rochester was criticised by the Church of England recently 
when he said there were no-go areas in Britain but he was right; there 
are certainly no-go areas for Christians who want to share the gospel."
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Last night, Christian campaigners described the officer's behaviour as 
"deeply alarming".

The preachers, both ministers in Birmingham, were handing out leaflets 
on Alum Rock Road in February when they started talking to four Asian 
youths.

A police community support officer (PCSO) interrupted the conversation 
and began questioning the ministers about their beliefs.

They said when the officer realised they were American, although both 
have lived in Britain for many years, he launched a tirade against 
President Bush and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Cunningham said: "I told him that this had nothing to do with the 
gospel we were preaching but he became very aggressive.

"He said we were in a Muslim area and were not allowed to spread our 
Christian message. He said we were committing a hate crime by telling 
the youths to leave Islam and said that he was going to take us to the 
police station."

The preacher refused to give the PCSO his address because he felt the 
officer's manner was "threatening and intimidating".

The ministers claim he also advised them not to return to the area. As 
he walked away, the PCSO said: "You have been warned. If you come back 
here and get beaten up, well you have been warned".

West Midlands Police, who refused to apologise, said the incident had 
been "fully investigated" and the officer would be given training in 
understanding hate crime and communication.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2058935/Police-advise-Christian-
preachers-to-leave-Muslin-area-of-Birmingham.html

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