By Darren Smith, Truth Times. (Photo: Tik Tok/Truth Times)
Businessman Samuel Leeds has committed to paying for legal representation for Christian street preachers targeted by police, telling Truth Times he is “outraged and shocked” to see Christians arrested for preaching “in a Christian country”. In a wide-ranging exclusive interview, Mr Leeds warned that Britain has developed a “double standard” against Christians, called for the country to “turn back to God”, and argued that pressure on Christianity is coming not from immigrants but from within Britain’s own institutions.
His pledge comes amid growing public debate over the treatment of Christian street preachers in Britain. Recent cases have included Pastor Dia Moodley, who was arrested while preaching in Bristol before police later took no further action, and Pastor Steve Maile, whose arrest while preaching in Watford — over allegations he denies — sparked widespread debate online about freedom of speech and religious expression. Mr Leeds says he wants Christians facing police action to have access to proper legal representation rather than being “simply silenced”.
Explaining his public commitment, Mr Leeds said the sight of street preachers being detained had moved him to act. “I am outraged and shocked to see Christians getting arrested on the streets and being told that they’re offensive for preaching about Jesus when we are living in a Christian country,” he told Truth Times. “We see Christians being persecuted all over the world, but seeing it happen in Great Britain — seeing the disdain, the hatred and now the oppression of Christian voices — really bothers me.”