Two Christian preachers are suing British police after an officer accused them of a "hate crime" for handing out gospel literature in a Muslim area of Birmingham in February. Arthur Cunningham and Joseph Abraham say they were told to stop and threatened with arrest.

Abraham said, "He came with a very intimidating attitude, 'What are you doing here?' He said 'I have the power to arrest you because you are spreading a hate crime. Give me your name. Give me your address.'"

Cunningham says the officer said "'…that you're not allowed to preach the Gospel here. That this is Muslim area'. He said 'you guys are committing a hate crime with what you're doing. I'm going to have to call you in and take you in,' and then he took his radio and said something like 'there's a hate crime in progress here. I need assistance.'"

And the first Police officer turned and said, 'Look, you've been warned not to come into this area. If you return and get beating, you've been warned.'"

The two men have demanded an apology and compensation for damages from West Midlands Police.

Sources: The Christian Institute and CBN News