Cops pay thousands to street preacher

A street preacher who was arrested in London for promoting Christianity has been awarded $2,786 by the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest.

Nigerian preacher Oluwole Ilesanmi was arrested in February in front of a subway station after a passer-by called called police, accusing him of "Islamophobic" remarks. A police officer snatched the preacher's Bible and said: "No one wants to hear that. They want you to go away." Officers then drove him several miles away and let him out of the car.

The arrest prompted a petition campaign in March urging the British home secretary to protect street preachers.

See video of the incident:

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A Christian preacher this afternoon was arrested at Southgate station London N14 for preaching about Jesus . @CConcern the police told him it’s because public had said he was being islamophobic . We have the full video and wondered when preaching was now illegal ? @Campaign4T pic.twitter.com/ZxC1DhlZCf

— EyeOnAntisemitism (@AntisemitismEye) February 23, 2019

DailyMail.com reported Ilesanmi described the outcome of his case as a victory for freedom of speech.

"I believe God loves everyone, including Muslims, but I have the right to say I that I don't agree with Islam – we are living in a Christian country, after all," he said.

A video of the incident shows an officer taking away the preacher's Bible. Another officer says: "You should've thought about that before being racist."

Shortly after the arrest of Ilesanmi, a review was proposed by the Professional Standards Unit of the Metropolitan police.

Ilesanmi had been accosted by a Muslim activist shortly before the video, according to the legal advocacy group Barnabas Fund.

"The man was loudly abusive about the Bible and God with his face close to the preacher's. The young man also threatened the preacher, brandishing a closed fist holding prayer beads," the report said.

The European Convention on Human Rights recognizes freedom of religion and expression, which includes the freedom to impart information and ideas without interference by a public authority.

JihadWatch Director Robert Spencer commented that the outcome of the Nigerian preacher's case "is good news, but it is nonetheless still clear in what direction Britain is heading."

"Would a Muslim preacher have ever been arrested and charged with 'racism' for preaching Islam to Christians? Of course not."