If you thought the cartoon row was a joke, think again. And regardless of the 'crime', every time I hear punishments of 40 lashes I have to check myself to to see if I actually exist in the 21st century :

Teacher charged over teddy row

Colleagues of Gillian Gibbons said she made an "innocent mistake" A British teacher has been charged in Sudan with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. The Foreign Office has confirmed that charges have been laid against Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool. She was arrested in Khartoum after allowing her class of primary school pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he will summon the Sudanese ambassador "as a matter of urgency". In a statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "surprised and disappointed" at the charges. A spokesman said the first step was to "understand the rationale behind the charge", something which would be discussed by Mr Miliband and the ambassador as soon as possible. 'Shameful ordeal' "We will consider our response in the light of that," he added. Lawyers say Mrs Gibbons faces six months in jail, 40 lashes or a fine if convicted. Sudanese state media said prosecutors had completed their investigation and decided to charge Mrs Gibbons under Article 125 of the Sudanese criminal code. What can't be named Muhammad? The BBC's Amber Henshaw, in Khartoum, said Mrs Gibbons was expected to appear in court on Thursday. The Muslim Council of Britain reacted angrily to the news, saying it was "appalled" and demanded Mrs Gibbons' immediate release. "This is a disgraceful decision and defies common sense. There was clearly no intention on the part of the teacher to deliberately insult the Islamic faith," said Secretary-General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, in a strongly-worded statement. "We call upon the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, to intervene in this case without delay to ensure that Ms Gibbons is freed from this quite shameful ordeal," said Dr Bari. 'Sensitive issue' Mrs Gibbons taught at the fee-paying Unity High School in Khartoum and the school's director, Robert Boulos, said earlier: "This is a very sensitive issue. We are very worried about her safety. Earlier, the Sudanese Embassy in London said the situation was a "storm in a teacup" and indicated that the teacher could be released soon, saying the incident was based on a cultural misunderstanding. In September, Mrs Gibbons asked her pupils to vote on a name for a teddy bear as part of a study of animals and their habitats. One boy told reporters: "The teacher asked me what I wanted to call the teddy. I said Muhammad. I named it after my name." We are shocked and dismayed as I think many people are Catherine Wolthuizen Fair Trials Abroad Mrs Gibbons was arrested on Sunday after several parents made complaints to Sudan's Ministry of Education. The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said the situation could potentially become a very serious diplomatic incident. Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials Abroad, told BBC News 24: "We are shocked and dismayed as I think many people are." She said securing expert legal representation for Mrs Gibbons was "a matter of great urgency".

Jailed today for 15 days. Muslims everywhere should be embarrassed. There was clearly no intention to offend anybody.

Britain said the incident was an 'innocent misunderstanding' Bishop's reaction

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 was also accused of inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. Her lawyers 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.

I have called in the Sudanese ambassador this evening to explain the decision and to discuss next steps Foreign Secretary David Miliband Reaction to verdict

Before the meeting, Mr Miliband said he was "extremely disappointed" the charges had not been dismissed and repeated his view that it had been an "innocent misunderstanding by a dedicated teacher".

"Our priority now is to ensure Mrs Gibbons' welfare, and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her," he said.

"I have called in the Sudanese ambassador this evening to explain the decision and to discuss next steps."

Staff complaint

Officials at the Foreign Office say the mood has changed as a result of the verdict.

The prime minister, Sudanese embassy officials in London and UK Muslim organisations all expressed the hope that Mrs Gibbons would be released.

But Sudan's top clerics had called for the full measure of the law to be used against Mrs Gibbons and labelled her actions part of a Western plot against Islam.

She could have faced up to 40 lashes if found guilty on all three charges against her.

In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats.

What can't be named Muhammad? Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn Sudan

The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education.

The BBC's Adam Mynott, in Khartoum, said Mrs Gibbons apologised to the court for any offence she may have caused.

The school's director, Robert Boulos, told the AP news agency: "It's a very fair verdict, she could have had six months and lashes and a fine, and she only got 15 days and deportation."

He said Mrs Gibbons would only serve another 10 days in prison, having already spent five in custody since her arrest.

Prosecutor general Salah Eddin Abu Zaid had said Mrs Gibbons could expect a "swift and fair trial".

But Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said Mrs Gibbons' treatment was excessive.

She said: "It was a very speedy justice process. Although she has been found guilty of all the counts of causing offence, she has thankfully not been subjected to 40 lashes.

Friggin Islamic nutters.  I won't start - I've said it all before, and I'll be saying it again next week when the next story of primitive backwards behaviour comes up.

I just hope the leftards out there take note next time they lecture us in western nations about how we need to be tolerant of this rubbish.

Apparently they want to execute by firing squad a woman who came to their country to help educate their young people :

Gillian Gibbons was sentenced to 15 days in prison and deportation

Thousands of people have marched in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to call for UK teacher Gillian Gibbons to be shot.

Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed by a court on Thursday after children in her class named a teddy bear Muhammad.

She was sentenced to 15 days for insulting religion, and she will then be deported.

The Foreign Office was in contact with Sudan's government overnight and is due to repeat demands for her release.

'Kill her'

The marchers took to the streets after Friday prayers to denounce the sentence as too lenient.

The protesters gathered in Martyrs Square, outside the presidential palace in the capital, many of them carrying knives and sticks.

Marchers chanted "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad".

Hundreds of riot police were deployed but they did not break up the demonstration.

The Foreign Office said it was seeking to confirm reports of the protest.

'Strongest terms'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been in touch with Mrs Gibbons' family for a second time, speaking to a close relative of the teacher.

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

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

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he could not "see any justification" for the sentence, calling it an "absurdly disproportionate response" to a "minor cultural faux pas".

In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats.

"Religion of Peace"

Peace only if you submit...

Jordan .

Teddy Bear Teacher Moved to Secret Location

Fri, Nov 30, 2007 at 10:34:10 am PST

The Daily Mail has more on the appalling demonstrations from Religion of Peace™ members in Sudan, who poured out of mosques after Friday prayers screaming for the death of teddy bear teacher Gillian Gibbons and brandishing large knives: Teddy bear teacher moved to secret location as thousands of Islamic fanatics demand her execution.

As the mother-of-two started a 15-day prison term, protestors had earlier left mosques across the Sudanese capital to denounce the “lenient verdict” and call for the death penalty.

The mob descended on Matyrs Square, which is in front of the presidential palace, many arriving in pick-up trucks with loudspeakers blaring messages condemning Miss Gibbons. Hundreds of riot police had been deployed but they made no attempt to disrupt the rally.

“Shame, shame on the U.K.,” protesters chanted,“ as they called for Miss Gibbons’ execution, saying, ”No tolerance: Execution,“ and ”Kill her, kill her by firing squad.“

Others shouted: ”Those who insult the Prophet of Islam should be punished with bullets."

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Jordan .

Good Lord, you're right!  The Muslims in that photo are entirely representative of the belief system at large!  Please sign me up for your newsletter!

Living and working in Montreal brings me into contact with tons of Muslims, many of whom are modern cosmopolitan people who think this kind of backwards reactionary nonsense is embarrassing.

And cyba, I'm going to let you get away with using the word "leftard" this one time, and if I see you use it again I promise I will cease responding to any of your posts.

JVS

The fact you took offence at to the term is kinda self-incriminating...don't you think?

Try not to be as hyper-sensitive as these Islamic nutters we are reading about in Sudan, Pakistan, Iran, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iraq, Nigeria.......

Oh, but don't let the global experience get in the way of your acceptance theory.  I'm sure in whichever Canadian town you live in there are peaceful muslims - we have plenty here in Australia too.  In fact I believe the majority don't physically act out the violence prescribed to them by their prophet.  But let's see how you go when their numbers reach a critical mass.

Hint:  ask the French how they're going with the riots at the moment.   ;)

I'm going to assume that was a joke.  I have to assume, since it wasn't funny and I have no other indicators.

Either way, awesome job elevating the dialog.

Bye. 

"Good Lord, you're right!  The Muslims in that photo are entirely representative of the belief system at large!  Please sign me up for your newsletter!"

Jamie - I would guess that the Muslims in that picture are probably entirely representative of the belief system in THEIR region - I'm NOT talking about Western Civiliation Muslims. Of course, almost anyone who lives in the West and is of that culture will understand the stupidity of this. But the fact of the matter is that until moderate Muslims start standing up against their own Muslim brothers and sisters then their "religion of peace" is far from a religion of peace. Islam needs to go through its own rebirth, much like Christianity has done. Until then, Islam is not a "religion of peace" and is a huge threat to all socities because of that fact.

Jordan .

"But the case was caught up in the ideology that al-Bashir's Islamic regime has long instilled in Sudan, a mix of anti-colonialism, religious fundamentalism and a sense that the West is besieging Islam." -- Toronto Star article

There's a discussion to be had about the problems that emerge when political "leaders" cultivate and manipulate a grassroots army of "true believers", and use the resulting mania as an excuse to claim the government is only representing the will of the people.  People in power often pander to the fundamentalist segments of their population -- they're easy to mobilize and they do what they're told.

There are examples outside the Sudan, outside Islam.   I can think of a couple off the top of my head.

My issue with Islam is that sharia law is a fundamental and essential tenet of the faith, and as such is imposed top-down on muslim societies. It is inherently authoritarian and cannot peacefully co-exist with democratic structures. With continued immigration into non-muslim lands and further spread of the Islamic faith, westernised muslims (and non-muslims) would eventually have to sumbit to sharia law and live in that kind of society. Other religions are not inextricably bound to politics the way Islam is. A secular-muslim is a contradiction in terms.

Muhammed goes well with chilli sauce IMO

What I'd like to know is where all the entrepeneurs have gone??

Surely Muhhamed dolls would sell by their thousands as the quiet majority out there send a powerful message through the simple purchase of a toy.

Now THAT was funny!!!!  

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Yes, thank goodness! It would be virtually impossible for a dodgy fundamentalist agenda to infiltrate government policy in the free West. Phew!

x-ray
if your back's against the wall, turn around and write on it...

That in contrast to naming a teddy bear Muhammed.

BTW - an update this morning - the teacher is in the hands of the British - thankfully.

Jordan .

A Silly Season Crossover hit.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

If some radical Christians, Jews, Buddists, Hindustanis acted like those in the instant case, they would be soundly, overwhelmingly condemned by the rank and file of the religion. That, for whatever reason ( fear, sympathy, tradition?) happens rarely if ever in these cases.

Centuries ago, that Inquisition was a dark blotch, and later in Hitler's Germany the Christians and secular humanists should have done more. Silence in the presence of absurdity allows the deadly weed to grow.