Sudanese teddy bear blasphemy case: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 00:40, 2 December 2007
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
The Sudanese teddy bear blasphemy case refers to the arrest of a British schoolteacher working at Unity High School in Sudan. Gillian Gibbons from Liverpool, England, was arrested by Sudanese authorities for allegedly insulting Islam by allowing her class to name a teddy bear "Muhammad".[1][2]
The prevalent Muslim opinion is to condem any depictions of Muhammad, whom Muslims regard as the last messenger and prophet of God. Initially it was thought that the complaint had originated from a parent of one of the children at the school. However, it was revealed that it was actually an office assistant, Sara Khawad, who filed the complaint and was the key witness for the prosecution.[3] Many Muslim organisations in other countries have publicly condemned the Sudanese over their reactions.[4] The teddy bear was named Muhammad by a vote of the class Gibbons was teaching.[2] A boy in the class named Mohammed later claimed that the bear was named after him.[2]
The school has been closed until January for the safety of pupils and staff as reprisals are feared.[2][5] On November 28, 2007, it was reported that the teacher, Gillian Gibbons, had been formally charged under Section 125 of the Sudanese Criminal Act, for "insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs".[6][7] This carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment, a fine, or 40 lashes.
On November 29, 2007, Gibbons was found guilty of "insulting religion", one of the three counts against her, and was sentenced to 15 days imprisonment and deportation.[8] The Muslim Council of Britain, an umbrella organisation of British Muslim groups, has said the punishment is "completely unjustified"[9] and has said it is "appalled",[10] and called on the Sudanese government to intervene.[11]
On November 30, protesters demanded Gibbon's execution after imams denounced her during Friday prayers.[12][13] During the march, chants of "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad" were heard. However, the authenticity of protesters has been questioned. Witnesses have reported that the government is inciting protests by using government employees to start said protests.[14]
In an attempt to push for the release of Gibbons, two British Muslim members of the House of Lords, Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi, have visited Sudan with hopes of talking to the country's President Omar al-Bashir.[15] Gibbons has been moved to a secret location because of fears for her safety.[15]
See also
Sources
- ^ "'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested". BBC. 2007-11-26. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
- ^ a b c d Rob Crilly in Khartoum and Lucy Bannerman (2007-11-27). "Sudan police throw teacher in jail for teddy bear named Muhammad". The Times. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
- ^ "Jailed teddy row teacher appeals for tolerance". 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
The complainant was named as Sara Khawad, an office assistant at the school, who was the key prosecution witness.
- ^ "Muhammad & the teddy bear: a case of intercultural incompetence". 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- ^ "Teddy bear teacher found guilty". Daily News. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "'Muhammad' Teacher charged over teddy row". BBC. 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ^ "UK teacher goes to court in Sudan". BBC. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ^ "UK teacher jailed over teddy row". 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ^ "U.K.: Sudan Ambassador Will Relay Concerns Over Teddy Bear Teacher". Associated Press. Fox News. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Addison, Stephen (2007-11-29). "Teddy bear teacher ― was she naive?". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ de Montesquiou, Alfred (2007-11-29). "Sudan Charges Teacher for Teddy Bear Name". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Mohamed Osman (30 November 2007). "Calls in Sudan for execution of Briton". Associated Press.
- ^ Charles Onians (2007-11-30). "Khartoum demo calls for teacher to be shot". American Free Press. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- ^ "Calls in Sudan for Execution of British Teacher". "The New York Times". 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
- ^ a b "UK peers in bid to free teacher", BBC News, 12-01-2007.