Pastor in trouble for saying Islam is satanic

11:15 - 15 December 2015

James McConell

An evangelical pastor has gone on trial in Northern Ireland accused of making "grossly offensive" remarks about Islam.

An evangelical pastor from Northern Ireland is now facing trial for spewing offensive comments about the Islamic religion.

According to reports by SkyNews, the pastor, 78-year-old Pastor James McConnell is now facing trial due to a sermon he preached at his church last year.

He reportedly described Islam as "satanic", "heathen" and "a doctrine spawned in hell".

READ: Imam publicly defends Pastor who branded Islam as 'satanic', says he'll join him in prison

McConnell was is being charged with improper use of a public electronic communications network and causing a grossly offensive message to be sent by means of a public electronic communications network.

The prosecutor, David Russel said McConnell "characterises the followers of an entire religion in a stereotypical way and that's grossly offensive and that’s not protected from saying it in a pulpit".

"It has nothing to do with religion or freedom of expression of his freedom to preach," he added.

Pastor McConnell, who denied these charges, faces up to six months in prison if convicted.