An American pastor who had his Rwandan radio station shut down after airing a sermon that described women as “evil” has been arrested for disturbing public order.

Authorities in the majority Christian country shut down Gregg Schoof’s Amazing Grace station in 2018 following outcry from women’s rights activists over who claimed he had “spread hate against women”.

Now Mr Schoof has been apprehend in the capital Kigali after gathering reporters to give a statement criticising the nation’s government for the decision, ahead of his move out of Rwanda following the expiration of his visa.

Established more than 10 years ago by the pastor as part of his missionary in the country, the radio station faced criticism in 2018 after broadcasting a sermon by local pastor Nicolas Niyibikora, who is alleged to have said: "Who can say anything good about women? There is nothing.

"Women we have now in our midst are prostitutes. Women brought sin into the world and when the world goes into extinction, it is because of women,"

African churches boom in London’s backstreets Show all 20 1 /20 African churches boom in London’s backstreets African churches boom in London’s backstreets Worshippers sing as they offer thanksgiving during Sunday service at the New Jerusalem Parish, a celestial Christian church. It is based in a former warehouse in the New Cross area of south London, just off the Old Kent Road. The service, which lasts for several hours, is attended by worshippers mainly of Nigerian descent who travel from all over London Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim & Seraphim was founded by Moses Orimolade Tunolase in 1925 in Nigeria, and is attended by worshippers of Nigerian descent who come from all over the UK for services Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Worshippers pray during a Good Friday church service at the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim & Seraphim Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Members of the Apostles Of Muchinjikwa Christian church pray at Basildon Sporting Village prior to a mass baptism (Jorodhani) Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets People walk near the seafront as members of the Apostles of Muchinjikwa worship before a mass baptism on the beachfront on Southend-on-Sea Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Young members of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim & Seraphim take a break as they prepare to parade through the street to celebrate their annual Thanksgiving Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Senior members of the Apostles Of Muchinjikwa Christian church baptise members on the beachfront on Southend-on-Sea Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Members of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim & Seraphim parade through the street to celebrate their annual Thanksgiving in Elephant and Castle Pictures by Simon Dawson/Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Members of the youth church perform in a knife crime play during a Good Friday performance at the House of Praise church in London Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Members of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim & Seraphim parade through the street to celebrate their annual Thanksgiving in Elephant and Castle Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Worshippers dance during ‘Super Sunday’ service at the House of Praise church. The church, formerly a theatre and bingo hall, is one of the biggest in south London. The services, mainly attended by those of Nigerian descent, are recorded using television cameras and can hold several thousand worshippers Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Senior members of the Apostles Of Muchinjikwa Christian church leave the sea after leading a mass baptism, or Jorodhani Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Worshippers bless a vehicle to keep it safe after a member of the congregation had a revelation during Sunday service at the Celestial Church of Christ Grace of God Parish in Southwark, southeast London Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Members of the Apostles Of Muchinjikwa Christian church pray outside the Basildon Sporting Village Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Worshippers take photos after ‘Super Sunday’ service at the House of Praise church in Camberwell, southeast London Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Worshippers greet each other following a night-time Christmas Eve service at the Celestial Church of Christ in Elephant and Castle, southeast London Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets A pedestrian walks past the Holy Ghost Zone church on the Old Kent Road in London Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets A woman prays after being baptised by senior members of the Apostles Of Muchinjikwa Christian church during a mass baptism (Jorodhani) on the beachfront on Southend-on-Sea Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets A worshipper kneels on the floor as she prays during a Sunday service at the House of Praise church in Camberwell Reuters African churches boom in London’s backstreets Senior members of the Apostles Of Muchinjikwa Christian church baptise members in Southend-on-Sea Reuters

Shortly after it aired in January, complaints poured in through social media.

The National Women's Association and Rwanda Women Journalists' Association also criticised the broadcast.

Mr Schoop, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, has since claimed the sermon used women as a metaphor for “bad churches” and that the pastor “did not preach against women”.

Mr Schoop had been ordered to apologise by airing a retraction and accepting a fine of 2million Rwandan Francs (£1,750).

However, he refused and responded to the ruling by saying he had done nothing wrong and was being “ordered to plead guilty” against his “conscience”.

“I am not Pastor Nicholas”, he wrote, “Pastor Nicholas must apologise himself”.

Following his arrest a police spokesman said Mr Schoof was handed over to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) "for further management."

It comes as the country seeks greater regulation of churches under President Paul Kagame, including the introduction of stringent building codes and laws requiring preachers train for a theological degree from an accredited school.

The law also requires church leaders disclose the source of their funding in a bid to clamp down on corruption.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

More than 700 churches, mostly Pentecostal, and one mosque were closed down in the capital in 2018, facing staunch criticism from some Christian groups.

However a government statement that year argued: “The closures do not infringe on freedom to worship but rather address the alarming proliferation of places of worship in dilapidated and unhygienic conditions, as well as troubling behaviour of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as religious leaders.

“The latter have, among other abuses, defrauded innocent followers, broadcast insults against women and other religions, and forced followers to fast to the point of death from starvation.”