'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

[cnredd]

'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

A British schoolteacher has been arrested in Sudan accused of insulting Islam's Prophet, after she allowed her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad.

Colleagues of Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, said she made an "innocent mistake" by letting the six and seven-year-olds choose the name.

Ms Gibbons was arrested after several parents made complaints.

The BBC has learned the charge could lead to six months in jail, 40 lashes or a fine.

Officials from the British embassy in Khartoum are expected to visit Ms Gibbons in custody.

"We are in contact with the authorities here and they have visited the teacher and she is in a good condition," an embassy spokesman said.

The spokesman said the naming of the teddy happened months ago and was chosen by the children because it is a common name in the country.

"This happened in September and the parents did not have a problem with it," he said.

The school has been closed until January for fear of reprisals.

Fellow teachers at Khartoum's Unity High School told Reuters news agency they feared for Ms Gibbons' safety after receiving reports that men had started gathering outside the police station where she was being held.

The school's director, Robert Boulos, said: "This is a very sensitive issue. We are very worried about her safety.

The religion of perpetual outrage strikes again...This time with government backing...

[foundit66]

Originally Posted by cnredd

'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

The religion of perpetual outrage strikes again...This time with government backing...

1) There are some campaigning for her "early" release before the 15 days is up. At least that is something.

2) There are also some campaigning for a harsher punishment. Death is even mentioned. Amazing and scary.

3) I heard one guy on the news talking about how he didn't want people to get the wrong impression out of this.
It pissed me off because quite frankly, he was more concerned about the impact of the perception on Islam than he was about the welfare of the teacher.
There was another guy who was much more *convincing* when he lead simply with the efforts in the Muslim community to try and get this woman released.

4) I think this woman is going to have to leave the country after this.
Period.
Just out of interest for her own safety.
(I just heard that she would be deported after the 15 days, and that she wanted to stay and continue teaching.)