UK Teacher Jailed Over Teddy Row

[Aηdy]

A British teacher has been found guilty in Sudan of insulting religion after she allowed her primary school class to name a teddy bear Muhammad.


Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported.

She escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has expressed "in the strongest terms" the UK's concern at her detention.


The Sudanese ambassador, Omer Siddiq, was called back to the Foreign Office to explain the decision.

Officials said that during his 45-minute meeting Mr Miliband also spoke to the Sudanese acting foreign minister for 15 minutes on the telephone.
"There will be further contacts overnight and tomorrow in the search for a swift resolution of this issue," the Foreign Office added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7119399.stm

[Gavin]

I heard about this on the radio today i think its ridiculous being jailed for naming a teddy 'Muhmamad'.

It wasn't even her that named the teddy it was the children.

Poor woman

[Aηdy]

This is what pisses me off about religion... its a Damn TEDDY!

[Gavin]

Personally i feel for her family and kids it's a real shame

[Whisper]

i saw this a few days ago it just pisses me right the fuck off

personally i'd send in a squad to retrieve her
with authorization to use any required force
I'd give them any and all recourses they requested to ensure success

The middle east annoys me
like an arrogant child with a bad temper

[Aηdy]

i saw this a few days ago it just pisses me right the fuck off

personally i'd send in a squad to retrieve her
with authorization to use any required force
I'd give them any and all recourses they requested to ensure success

The middle east annoys me
like an arrogant child with a bad temper

QFT. Damn right!

[redcar]

It's their religion, it's their culture. Just because we disagree with it, doesn't mean it is wrong. To them it is right.

[Aηdy]

I'm not saying it's wrong. But they take it too far.

[Gumleaf]

this has been on the radio here for a few days and is absolute crap.

[redcar]

Well they could equally say "You allow two men in a sexual realationship and let them broadcast it!" to the Western World. To them that is taking it too far.

To them, she insulted them so much. To get away with 15 days and deportation I think she is getting away lightly to be honest. We know how important religion is to them.

[Bobby]

A teddy bear. Someone is in jail because of a teddy bear's name.

...I'm not even going to comment.

[Whisper]

It's their religion, it's their culture. Just because we disagree with it, doesn't mean it is wrong. To them it is right.

I don't care!
see we make huge allowances for different cultures were very lenient and forgiving espically if its nothing more then a simple misunderstanding
why? because were a global community and thats how you have to act in order to get along

they
don't seem to understand this
they have NEVER shown us the same kindness, forgiveness, or understanding as we've shown them

I say
enoughs enough
its time they learn that NATO really is the most powerful military alliance in all of earths history
and that if ya fuck around
somebody's going to get hurt reeeeeal bad!

[Aηdy]

I must say Cody, you're right!

[redcar]

I think they are showing it now, though. Like she could have faced lashes for this.

She went to work in Sudan, she should have been aware of the culture and what is acceptable and not acceptable. She was a visitor in their country, it was her duty and responsibility to learn this.

Now I feel sorry for her, I really do don't get me wrong.

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

How is naming a teddy Muhammed detromental to Islam? They are F***ing kids! Let it go people! If an islamic teachers students named a teddy Jesus, this wouldnt happen! F***ing calm down crazy religious people!

[Dante]

Im going to have to agree with Alex. I think how she is being treated is unjust, however, she should have known better and i am sure she was aware of things like this.

Remember when muslims got upset over the danish cartton(i believe danish) depicting Muhammad? They were upset.

To them it means something as Muhammad is a very important figure in their religion.

I would have told the kids that it would not be acceptable to name it Muhammad because of the possible backlash.

They hold things dare to them and I do think they are overreacting and do need to reason a bit, but we need to recognize that this is something of importance.

So instead of Nuking them because we dont understand their philosophies, why not try to have open communcation with them and learn from them and try to make them learn from us.

and from reading the article..seems like the foreign minister does think its a misunderstanding, so hence a form of change in their beliefs.

[Whisper]

I never said anything about nukes
Those wouldn't be needed to take care of that shithole

Then why not make it an even playing ground
Why do we always have to accommodate them and there traditions and their religion and philosophies and beliefs
when even for the simple mistake we make there its instant prison or worse?

[Gavin]

The news reports now is that she could be shot.

[redcar]

No its just people protesting that she should be executed. Now that is far too extreme and just won't happen.

But Cody we can never be an even playing ground because of cultural differences. Even on personal levels. Like I was on the bus today and I overheard a conversation, I took such offence to what they were staying, but to them it was nothing. Like what offends everyone is different both on a personal and large scale. Like what they are doing to her is offending the western world but what she did initially offended them.

[Whisper]

By Opheera mcdoom KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The British teacher jailed in Sudan for letting her students name a teddy bear Mohammad won a pardon on Monday and was released into British care.

http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-12-03T123817Z_01_L03610491_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-SUDAN-PROPHET-COL.XML

[Hyper]

Lol that's good..

However I think she should've been smart enough to know.. Not to do that.. I doubt much people would approve of a teddy Jesus or teddy Buddah.. Though I don't see much wrong with it..