Tory politician is arrested in a hate crimes inquiry after sharing video criticizing police for wrongfully arresting a Christian minister and defending ‘only black councillor’ in Northamptonshire, suspended for calling Gay Pride ‘a sin’ calls

A Conservative councilor was arrested for an alleged hate crime after he shared a video criticizing the police’s treatment of a Christian street preacher.

Cllr Anthony Stevens, 50, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, told me The Telegraph he was arrested at his home this month and taken to a police station to be questioned over tweets from his personal account.

One tweet shared by Cllr Stevens in May was a video showing how officers handled the 2019 arrest of Christian pastor Oluwole Ilisanmi in Southgate, London.

The police officer took Mr Ilisanmi’s bible after the minister was accused of being Islamophobic and Mr Ilisanmi was later awarded £2,500 for wrongful arrest.

The video also showed an officer appearing to declare that a Muslim preacher was allowed to preach in a shopping street.

Cllrs Stevens and Lawal with coach Ray Revell present money to Wellingborough Boxing Club. The two were part of the effort to keep the club afloat

Wellingborough City Council member Cllr Stevens said he was informed by officers that the original tweet he shared was posted by a member of the far-right Britain First political party.

Cllr Stevens said he was unaware of this and had no idea who the Britain First party was.

He said he only shared it as “disturbing evidence of religious discrimination in law enforcement.”

Police also questioned why he had tweeted his support for fellow Northamptonshire councilor Cllr King Lawal, who has been ‘cancelled’ for speaking out about his Christian beliefs in relation to LGBT issues, according to Cllr Stevens.

Cllr Lawal, 31, the only black councilor in Northamptonshire, was suspended last month by his local Conservative group after commenting on photos of Pride parades organized by LGBT groups.

He wrote, “When did pride become something to celebrate? Because of pride, Satan fell like an archangel. Pride is not a virtue but a sin. Those who are proud must repent of their sins and return to Jesus Christ. He can save you.’

In July, Cllr Stevens retweeted a petition asking for Cllr Lawal’s party positions to be reinstated, saying, “If you value freedom of expression, sign and share it.”

Police arrest Oluwole Ilisanmi. An officer seized Mr Ilisanmi’s bible after the pastor was accused of being Islamophobic and he was later awarded £2,500 for wrongful arrest

He said officers picked up his tweets about Cllr Lawal and asked him why he supported the petition.

Cllr Stevens said he responded that he is a “free speech absolutist” and that he believes people have a right to express their beliefs, even if he doesn’t share their views.

Cllr Stevens said he was then asked if he agreed with Cllr Lawal’s first tweet that Pride is sinful, including LGBT events.

He said he responded by saying that “it didn’t matter if he agreed with what he said or not, he believed he had a right to say it without having his life ripped apart.”

Police were also curious about a tweet shared by Cllr Stevens on his account of 76 followers, which showed footage of a man burning a copy of the Quran.

Cllr Stevens said his post was consistent with his view that he agreed that burning a copy of the Quran was part of one’s “right to freedom of expression in a free society.”

Cllr Stevens said he understood a local Labor Party member had reported him to the police.

He was told he had been arrested for a public order offense under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Police said he was suspected of distributing written material to incite racial hatred.

Cllr Stevens has been released on bail.

The Christian Legal Center is lending his support and he plans to file a complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct.