by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Canadian pastor Artur Pawlowski, who faces criminal charges pertaining to violations of COVID-19 protocols at his church services, was re-arrested at Calgary International Airport as he stepped off a plane from the US on Monday, Global News reports. Pawlowski was released on bail on Monday night.
The reason for his re-arrest was not known, although Pawlowski was found guilty on June 5 for violating a court order requiring the implementation of social distancing and masking protocols during church services. The pastor has also been charged with failing to wear a face-covering (March 13, 2021), Global News said.
At a sentencing hearing on September 14, Alberta Health Services asked that Pawlowski be jailed for 21 days and fined $2,000 with $15,000 in costs, Global News reports. The decision on sentencing is expected to be made on October 13.
Pawlowski believes he is being persecuted by Canadian authorities. “I am here before this court as a political prisoner of conscience,” he told Justice Adam Germain at his sentencing hearing. “The AHS and the politicians have found a new way of penalizing anyone that is opposing their unconstitutional medical tyranny. They hate the idea that they have been exposed for what they really are: liars, hypocrites and cheaters,” Pawlowski said.
“I have heard from my grandparents about similar tactics from the time of the Nazis, persecuting churches and the clergy. Canada has fallen. Sure you can lock us up and throw the key away, but our political imprisonment will shout even louder about the hypocrisy,” Pawlowski added.