TV evangelist Franklin Graham said Canada’s fundamental freedoms have “suffered greatly” since introducing same-sex marriage ten years ago.

The preacher, who has previously approved of Russia’s treatment of gay people, said in a Facebook post: “Canada began federally mandating same-sex marriage in 2005. What’s happened since then?

“One result has been that freedom of speech, press, and religion have suffered greatly.

“If you say or write anything questioning same-sex marriage, you could face discipline, termination of employment, or prosecution by the government!

“We need to realize that if our Supreme Court makes same-sex marriage the law in the United States, we will be in the same boat.

“Will the next step be to ban us from speaking God’s truth from His Word about this issue?”

Mr Graham, who is the son of preacher Billy Graham, has previously said he agreed with Russian president Vladimir Putin’s attitude towards LGBT people and that he was doing what was “right for Russia”.

He said: “Putin is going to make these decisions that he thinks is best for the Russian people, and he thinks that taking advantage of children — exploiting children — is wrong for any group so they passed a law.

“So, I do agree with him.”

He has also responded to Pope Francis’s “who am I to judge” comments, saying that the Pope is “not the judge” on homosexuality.