UK pastor says he was arrested for preaching the gospel, speaking out against Islam
A UK pastor, Steve Maile, was arrested while preaching in Watford, facing charges related to hate speech. He claims his message was one of hope and love, not hate, and insists he did not commit any crime. The incident has raised concerns about freedom of speech and religious expression in the UK.
- ▪Steve Maile, a 66-year-old pastor, was arrested on April 18, 2026, while preaching in Watford, England.
- ▪He is facing charges related to inciting religious hatred for discussing Islam's history during his sermon.
- ▪Maile has been a pastor for 45 years and is known for altering popular songs to convey Christian messages.
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Media UK pastor says he was arrested for preaching the gospel, speaking out against Islam Steve Maile was handcuffed and detained for 12 hours, faces public order offense charge By Kristine Parks Fox News Published May 17, 2026 11:00am EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video UK scales back policing of social media posts Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg Palkot reports on the U.K. Home Office’s decision to stop policing certain social media posts and refocus on tackling ‘real’ crime on ‘America Reports.’ NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A 66-year-old U.K. pastor arrested while street preaching in London, said he is facing hate speech-related charges for preaching the Bible and speaking out against Islam.
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