Just heard that the English teacher, Gillian Gibbons, has been found guilty in a court in Khartoum, Sudan, of insulting religion. She was charged after she allowed her class of 7-year olds to name the class teddy "Mohammed". Apart from being one of the most common name for a male child in the world, it is also the name of the Muslim Prophet, whose name cannot be used idly. It would appear that a school official reported the teacher to the authorities.
Have to say that this is actually way over the top for an innocent mistake, and reflecting badly on Sudan as a country and as a muslim nation. The Muslim Council of Great Britain previously called on the Sudanese authorities to drop the charges. It would have been patently obvious that there was no premeditated intent on the teacher's part to insult the Muslim religion, and even if it is not in order to name a toy after the Prophet Mohammed, such a harsh line is totally uncalled for.
It is reported this evening that the Sudanese ambassador has been called to the Foreign Office in London to explain what has happened.
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This is totally beyond me Gudeo. I feel physically sick for this poor woman. Surely it is one time when the British Government can really speak up about an injustice. Has everyone gone mad...I am beginning to wonder....Sybilx
ReplyDeleteI hope the English govenment will intervene in this case but not holding my breath ,Isnt it getting stupid ? ...love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteThis is so ridiculous, lets hope our Government intervene, but as Jan say lets not hold our breath
ReplyDeleteYasmin
I was just watching an update on that on our news. I hope the Sudanese government backs down.
ReplyDeleteLori
You know, I wouldn't really want children to name a teddy Jesus, but the children voted the name in. And supposedly many are muslim. So I suppose either they aren't old enough to understand or they really thought they were doing an honor. Then again, Mohammed is a very common name. The prophet may not have entered their minds. Is this the muslim version of political correctness gone insane??! - Barbara
ReplyDeleteTotally uncalled for is correct ~ my gosh how ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteLisa
I thought this was one of those joke news reports this morning,until the conviction was announced,there was,at one point,talk of her recieving 40 lashes? Unbelievable,the worlds gone ga ga honestly !! zoe xx
ReplyDeleteThis is beyond the pale! Anyone with common sense would be able to work out that the teacher was naive about the repercussions of what could happen by calling a 'teddy' by the prophets name.
ReplyDeleteThis is only adding fuel to the fire of racism.
Lets hope they let her go without her having to serve any more of the sentence.!!!
Jeanie
Cannot believe that they put her in prison for this! bella
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