A Christian street preacher has had charges relating to a Non-Crime Hate Incident (NCHI) dropped, after questioning a member of the public on Islamic teachings around women.

John Steele, a regular street preacher in Rotherham, described the experience as “degrading”. He was arrested on 21st June 2025 after engaging in a short conversation with a Muslim woman at a public awareness stall offering support to women of ethnic minorities experiencing domestic abuse.

Mr Steele asked, using a small microphone in Rotherham town centre, how Islamic teachings on wife-beating could be reconciled with the stall’s message.

His lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre say he was referring to the controversial verse in the Quran 4:34, which says: “Men are in charge of women… good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them.” (Pickthall translation)

He then shared that by comparison, the Bible instructs men to love their wives as Christ loves the Church.

Police bodycam footage shows him being informed of a public complaint against him, with officers requiring him to give his name and address for “anti-social” behaviour.

“The world has gone mad,” Mr Steele said.

“This is the world we live in,” the police officer responded, and added: “I think it was your delivery.”

“I asked a simple question,” Mr Steele replied. “I’m not hating anybody.”

Officers arrested Steele after he refused to give his details.

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “We welcome the fact that this case has now been dropped, but it should never have progressed as far as it did.

“This is a clear and disturbing example of two-tier policing. It is both irrational and unlawful for officers to threaten members of the public with so-called ‘non-crime hate incidents’ simply for expressing lawful and peaceful views.”