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'Teddy' teacher jailed in Sudan
by CNN
Reposted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11/29/sudan.bears/index.html
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- British teacher in Sudan, found guilty of insulting religion, gets 15 days' jail
- Gillian Gibbons, 54, arrested after her class named teddy bear "Mohammed"
- UK consular staff, Gibbons' defense team initially refused access to the court
Watch video coverage here:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11/29/sudan.bears/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNN) -- A Sudanese court found a British teacher guilty of inciting religious hatred and sentenced her to 15 days imprisonment Thursday for allowing a teddy bear to be named "Mohammed," British authorities and her lawyer reported.
Gillian Gibbons also faces deportation from Sudan after her prison term, her lawyer told CNN. He said he was "very disappointed" with the verdict and that Gibbons planned to appeal.
Gibbons, 54, was arrested Sunday after she asked her class of 7-year-olds in Khartoum to name the stuffed animal as part of a school project, the British Foreign Office said. She had faced charges under Article 125 of Sudan's constitution, the law relating to insulting religion and inciting hatred.
Although there is no ban in the Quran on images of Allah or the Prophet Mohammed, Islam's founder, likenesses are considered highly offensive by Muslims. Watch latest developments in the case. »
Appearing somber and dazed, Gibbons arrived at the central courthouse in Khartoum for her closed hearing early Thursday. A staff member from the British Embassy in Khartoum and defense lawyers were in the hearing with her.
The courthouse was heavily guarded by police, who kept journalists -- and, for a while, even one of her attorneys -- away.
Gibbons could have faced a sentence of 40 lashes, a fine or jail term of up to a year, according to the Foreign Office, which expressed Britain's dissatisfaction with the verdict.
"We are extremely disappointed that the charges against Gillian Gibbons were not dismissed," Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a statement issued shortly after the verdict was announced.
"As I said this morning, our clear view is that this is an innocent misunderstanding by a dedicated teacher. Our priority now is to ensure Ms. Gibbons' welfare and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her. I have called in the Sudanese Ambassador, Omer Siddiq, this evening to explain the decision and discuss next steps."
The Foreign Office said Gibbons would be given credit for the four days since her arrest, meaning that the she has 11 days remaining on her sentence.
Earlier, Miliband had met with Siddig, who was summoned to the Foreign Office in London.
"I explained to him that we were very concerned by the case. We believe that this was an innocent misunderstanding," Miliband said in a statement released Thursday after the meeting.
"The Sudanese ambassador undertook to ensure our concerns were relayed to Khartoum at the highest level. He also said he would reflect back to Khartoum the real respect for the Islamic religion in this country," the statement added.
On the first floor of the courthouse, around 25 police linked arms and forced journalists and British officials away from the court entrance. Police detained some journalists, and confiscated a camera belonging to a free-lance CNN cameraman.
our vans filled with riot police were waiting outside the courthouse, but there were no signs of street disturbances or protests. Staff from Gibbons' school, including Robert Boulos, the head of Unity High School, were present. The staff members refused to comment on their colleague's predicament.
On Wednesday, Boulos said he was "horrified" when he found out a member of his own staff complained, not from a parent as originally thought. Defense counsel later confirmed that the complaint came from Sarah Khawad, a secretary at the school.
Gibbons has been working at the school -- popular with wealthy Sudanese and expatriates -- since August, after leaving her position as deputy head teacher at a primary school in Liverpool this summer, Boulos said.
He said Gibbons asked the children to pick their favorite name for the new class mascot, which she was using to aid lessons about animals and their habitats.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11/29/sudan.bears/index.html
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- British teacher in Sudan, found guilty of insulting religion, gets 15 days' jail
- Gillian Gibbons, 54, arrested after her class named teddy bear "Mohammed"
- UK consular staff, Gibbons' defense team initially refused access to the court
Watch video coverage here:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11/29/sudan.bears/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNN) -- A Sudanese court found a British teacher guilty of inciting religious hatred and sentenced her to 15 days imprisonment Thursday for allowing a teddy bear to be named "Mohammed," British authorities and her lawyer reported.
Gillian Gibbons also faces deportation from Sudan after her prison term, her lawyer told CNN. He said he was "very disappointed" with the verdict and that Gibbons planned to appeal.
Gibbons, 54, was arrested Sunday after she asked her class of 7-year-olds in Khartoum to name the stuffed animal as part of a school project, the British Foreign Office said. She had faced charges under Article 125 of Sudan's constitution, the law relating to insulting religion and inciting hatred.
Although there is no ban in the Quran on images of Allah or the Prophet Mohammed, Islam's founder, likenesses are considered highly offensive by Muslims. Watch latest developments in the case. »
Appearing somber and dazed, Gibbons arrived at the central courthouse in Khartoum for her closed hearing early Thursday. A staff member from the British Embassy in Khartoum and defense lawyers were in the hearing with her.
The courthouse was heavily guarded by police, who kept journalists -- and, for a while, even one of her attorneys -- away.
Gibbons could have faced a sentence of 40 lashes, a fine or jail term of up to a year, according to the Foreign Office, which expressed Britain's dissatisfaction with the verdict.
"We are extremely disappointed that the charges against Gillian Gibbons were not dismissed," Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a statement issued shortly after the verdict was announced.
"As I said this morning, our clear view is that this is an innocent misunderstanding by a dedicated teacher. Our priority now is to ensure Ms. Gibbons' welfare and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her. I have called in the Sudanese Ambassador, Omer Siddiq, this evening to explain the decision and discuss next steps."
The Foreign Office said Gibbons would be given credit for the four days since her arrest, meaning that the she has 11 days remaining on her sentence.
Earlier, Miliband had met with Siddig, who was summoned to the Foreign Office in London.
"I explained to him that we were very concerned by the case. We believe that this was an innocent misunderstanding," Miliband said in a statement released Thursday after the meeting.
"The Sudanese ambassador undertook to ensure our concerns were relayed to Khartoum at the highest level. He also said he would reflect back to Khartoum the real respect for the Islamic religion in this country," the statement added.
On the first floor of the courthouse, around 25 police linked arms and forced journalists and British officials away from the court entrance. Police detained some journalists, and confiscated a camera belonging to a free-lance CNN cameraman.
our vans filled with riot police were waiting outside the courthouse, but there were no signs of street disturbances or protests. Staff from Gibbons' school, including Robert Boulos, the head of Unity High School, were present. The staff members refused to comment on their colleague's predicament.
On Wednesday, Boulos said he was "horrified" when he found out a member of his own staff complained, not from a parent as originally thought. Defense counsel later confirmed that the complaint came from Sarah Khawad, a secretary at the school.
Gibbons has been working at the school -- popular with wealthy Sudanese and expatriates -- since August, after leaving her position as deputy head teacher at a primary school in Liverpool this summer, Boulos said.
He said Gibbons asked the children to pick their favorite name for the new class mascot, which she was using to aid lessons about animals and their habitats.
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Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2007 | PermalinkComments 1 - 39 of 39 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #91872 by Devolution on November 29, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Phew, at last justice is served! Other Comments by Devolution
3. Comment #91875 by drive1 on November 29, 2007 at 1:40 pm
"The Sudanese ambassador .. said he would reflect back to Khartoum the real respect for the Islamic religion in this country,(UK)" the statement added.
I wish, as an Englishman, to disassociate myself from any such mealy-mouthed 'understanding'. Respect has to be earned. Your religion's Respect account is currently seriously overdrawn.
Oh, and I'm taking Sarah Khawad off my winter solstice card list. Splitter!
Other Comments by drive1
4. Comment #91880 by octopus on November 29, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I do not think anyone else in the world complained about poor bear being named after renowned paedophile, so I do not understand why Sudanese are so uptight about it.Other Comments by octopus
5. Comment #91887 by room101 on November 29, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I still don't understand why none of the kids knew not to mock their great deity. Didn't they learn that already in their madrassas or wherever the hell they get taught? And shouldn't their parents have instilled this great fear in them by now?Other Comments by room101
6. Comment #91899 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on November 29, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Still gobsmacked. Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen
7. Comment #91943 by tieInterceptor on November 29, 2007 at 3:31 pm
yup, they totally lost it. Other Comments by tieInterceptor
8. Comment #91958 by dhudson0001 on November 29, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I can't stand the thought of it. I hope she gets a good tour and maybe a book deal out of this experience...at least she may be monetarily compensated for what these sick minds have done to her. HOW DARE THEY! I'm just pissed. Other Comments by dhudson0001
9. Comment #91963 by A on November 29, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Own goal.Other Comments by A
10. Comment #92006 by PrimeNumbers on November 29, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I have no respect for Islam. None what-so-ever. Like all organisations, or people, they need to earn respect, and give respect. Islam does neither.Not only that, but they can't even seem to see what they're doing wrong.
Other Comments by PrimeNumbers
11. Comment #92089 by agg on November 29, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Wow, first the poor woman in Saudi Arabia and now this... I am afraid they've finally managed to reach past my tipping point. I am usually as socially active as a dead man but this has finally got to me and I gotta do something.The question is what?
As a first step, I was about to send an extremely angry letter to the ambassador of Sudan but I found out the position in the US is vacant. I will still write one but I'll have to find out whom to send it to.
Next is a long-overdue donation to the RDF with the hope that it has some impact on getting some people to see reason when it hits them on their head.
But that seems too little and frankly not very helpful to the poor teacher in jail. Any suggestions about what one can do to help her in a more direct way?
Also, any chance we can at least try to keep this in the news for a while?
This is insult to humanity and I refuse to share even a single bit of DNA with those malignant molecular conglomerates.
Other Comments by agg
12. Comment #92154 by Verylee on November 30, 2007 at 1:30 am
Every religion should carry a government health warning. WARNING: MOCKING CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH!
Other Comments by Verylee
13. Comment #92158 by Quetzalcoatl on November 30, 2007 at 1:43 am
I'm angered, but not surprised by this decision.It does sound like this Sarah Khawad had a grudge against the teacher as well.
And it's good to see some decisive action from my Government, too busy bleating about how much we respect Islam to actually take any decisive action.
Why the hell should we respect such utter, utter lunacy?
Other Comments by Quetzalcoatl
14. Comment #92177 by Vaal on November 30, 2007 at 2:38 am
Not much that can be done, unfortunately. If we stop aid, then the poor and the helpless will suffer. If we impose diplomatic sanctions then we make the Sudanese look like the victims, a common Islamic tactic, making the aggressors appear to be the victims.Best just to ignore it, as the clerics have shown themselves to be intolerant and small minded, especially to the rest of the Islamic world.
Seems to me religion does a pretty good job of insulting itself.
Other Comments by Vaal
15. Comment #92214 by Incredulous on November 30, 2007 at 4:25 am
Utter lunacy!! Wouldn't surprise me if they imprisoned and whipped the teddy bear for aiding and abetting in the said crime(??).More seriously, could you blame the poor teacher if she now turned her back on those who most probably appreciated her assistance.
Sad to think how much harm this brutal arrogance has done down the centuries.
I wonder how the kids are reacting to this? They probably haven't got a clue what's going on and probably mystified to tears how a decision that they have made has led to such harsh treatment for someone they liked.
If this doesn't add to the growing reality that religion poisons everything, well nothing can.
Utter lunacy!!
Other Comments by Incredulous
16. Comment #92218 by Flagellant on November 30, 2007 at 4:37 am
Here's the slightly edited text of a letter I've just sent to my MP:Whatever the government does to express its disapproval at the disgraceful treatment of Gillian Gibbons, one measure would be easy and effective: repeal the blasphemy laws, immediately . This would send a strong message about how civilised nations behave. It would provide a level playing field for all religions and, incidentally, undermine any attempted prosecution of 'Jerry Springer - The Opera'.I wonder if this will fall upon deaf ears or become buried in the sleaze pile.
After that, they might consider removing the limited protection recently given to 'religion' generally.
Nearly ten years ago, foreseeing how the iniquity (protection of Christianity) might play with UK Mohammedans, I wrote to you with a similar suggestion. You passed my letter on to the late Robin Cook whose anodyne answer amounted to 'It's all a matter of opinion'.
No it isn't; it's a matter of logic.
The repeal of blasphemy legislation, never (I hope) likely to be used successfully in the future, would send a powerful signal that, while we value diversity, secular democracies do not rely on medieval or dark age legislation to protect religious sensibilities.
This could be done even before Gillian Gibbons is back in the UK and the launch of metaphorical cruise missiles against the appalling Khartoum administration begins.
Please deal with this as a matter of urgency!
Other Comments by Flagellant
17. Comment #92219 by Russell Blackford on November 30, 2007 at 4:39 am
It really is so hard to know what to do. As Martin Amis has mused elsewhere, you can find yourself fantasising about very tough political action, but that won't help the poor of Sudan or even whatever secularised middle class exists there.Other Comments by Russell Blackford
18. Comment #92220 by Russell Blackford on November 30, 2007 at 4:47 am
Flagellant, it'll probably fall on deaf ears. But I agree it's a good move that the government there could make.I think one of the best things that Western governments can do in the midst of this current and ongoing crisis about the future of religion and its influence is simply clean up their own statute books, so as to give much stronger protection to freedom of speech and to get rid of prohibitions that have no good secular justification (though I know that I'll get argument even here if I offer my own complete wish list of statutes I want to see repealed).
Let's seize back our Enlightenment.
Other Comments by Russell Blackford
19. Comment #92221 by scottishgeologist on November 30, 2007 at 4:49 am
Incredulous, you are quite right. The kids are the ones that are going to miss out, all because of this medieaval BS called religion.Hitchens comment that religion poisons everything is indeed most apt here, except of course, the evangie types in the west will get round it by claiming that its all because of the FALSE religion of Islam, not the version of the venom that they hold dear of course because only they HAVE THE TRUTH!!!
And of course the liberal christian types will come out with that appeasement BS about "extremists" and "majority of MODERATE muslims"(surely an oxymoron)
I notice that that bearded hippie wizard, the archbishop of Canterbury was singing the praises of how muzzies "do " faith the other day:
"Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, commended the Muslim practice of praying five times a day, which he says allows the remembrance of God to be "built in deeply in their daily rhythm."
But it appears that he is also on the offensive:
"As the diplomatic war intensified, the Most Rev Rowan Williams launched a stinging attack on the decision, branding it "self-destructive absurdity".
He said: "I can't see any justification for this at all. I think this is an absurdly disproportionate response to what is at worst a cultural faux pas."
Wow! That'll really have them quaking. Go on Bish, wave a balloon on a stick at them, tell them you are rather cross, and watch them cower. Twat.
Other Comments by scottishgeologist
20. Comment #92224 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on November 30, 2007 at 5:13 am
I read these assholes the riot act. Here. Go thou and do likewise.http://sudan-embassy.co.uk/en/component/option,com_contact/ampItemid,3/
Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen
21. Comment #92225 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on November 30, 2007 at 5:16 am
I also just called them, and a person answered. Call the ass off them, at least you'll be yelling at a real person!!! Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
3 Cleveland Row
St. James's
London
SW1A 1DD
Telephone: 020 7839 8080
Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen
22. Comment #92228 by epeeist on November 30, 2007 at 5:24 am
Just listening to the news on R4. It was pointed out that the aid being provided is being used to make people convert to Islam. Also that Sharia law is only meant to apply to Muslim citizens. Gillian Gibbons should not have even been charged.
Other Comments by epeeist
23. Comment #92231 by hungarianelephant on November 30, 2007 at 5:30 am
Do you all really think the Sudanese haven't been on to their ambassador in London? And what would he say? My guess is that it would be along the lines of: "These Brits will make a fuss but they don't have the cojones for action. Convict her, give her a 'moderate' sentence, and we'll have some bargaining chips, as well as getting brownie points with the Arabs." That's certainly the lesson I'd have learnt from HMG's dealings with the IRA these last 15 years.This is about us, not them. The sooner we get that, the sooner we can do something effective.
Other Comments by hungarianelephant
24. Comment #92232 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on November 30, 2007 at 5:32 am
I'm officially coining the term "to Khawad". Meaning To spitefully and pointlessly undermine just because you're a mean bitch. Or bastard. and you can.This one really has me blowing my top. Not just because its stupid, absurd and pointless, but because it drives us further into the arms of our own fuckwits.
Arrrgh.
Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen
25. Comment #92236 by epeeist on November 30, 2007 at 5:45 am
Comment #92231 by hungarianelephantMy guess is that it would be along the lines of: "These Brits will make a fuss but they don't have the cojones for action.
Hopefully it might be more on the lines "These Brits are our second biggest aid donors and the chairman of the Anglo-Sudan working party in the House of Commons has just said they would be looking at the topic of aid again. We stand to lose money for our Swiss bank accounts, so sort it out."
Other Comments by epeeist
26. Comment #92237 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on November 30, 2007 at 5:47 am
That's certainly the lesson I'd have learnt from HMG's dealings with the IRA these last 15 years.Really? As an Irishman I take the view that restraint has delivered a rich and stable neighbour, with almost the highest per capita earnings in the EU, buying British (and other EU) stuff hand over fist.
Now sucking the Northern Irish economy along in its wake to such a degree that unemployment is so low all over the Island, that no one has any time left for terrorism. Too busy. Frankly, that sounds like a result to me.
Do you think if the UK had been "doing something effective" we'd be were we are now?
Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen
27. Comment #92248 by Ty_Webb on November 30, 2007 at 6:07 am
As if 15 days in jail weren't enough for the vicious and hateful crime of naming a teddy bear, it appears that thousands of them have been protesting and asking for the death sentence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7121025.stmWhenever I think my opinion of these people has hit rock bottom, they manage to prove me wrong. Unbelievable.
Other Comments by Ty_Webb
28. Comment #92250 by Flagellant on November 30, 2007 at 6:15 am
I've just heard about the protesters calling for the death sentence. It occurs to me, uncharitably, to imagine a 'Mission Impossible' scenario in which Sarah Khawad is disguised as Gillian Gibbons and handed over to the mob. Silly, but I can't get it out of my mind. Perhaps I should get out more... God is thoroughly grott, merdeiful.
Other Comments by Flagellant
29. Comment #92251 by phasmagigas on November 30, 2007 at 6:22 am
as soon as i read about the teddy bear story i foresaw the consequences, i knew that many would want this lady killed, and i was right.The problem is even once she gets back to the UK she is going to come under threat from islamic people there, as there WILL be muslims in the UK who will want her dead. This whole fiasco is almost the perfect example of why books like TGD and GING were written.
It perfectly demonstrates the type of behaviour that religion can trigger. Its notions of unquestioned authority, what is right/wrong and its ability to move a violent mob, as hitchens says 'religion poisons everything'.
I wonder if these marches will erupt into some local civil breakdown? i wonder what the body count will be at the end of all this? if this cannot demonstrate the malign affect that religious beliefs can have on people (after the naming of a toy) then nothing will.
Its nothing more than an excuse for men behaving badly, we see it worldwide (lynchings, football hooliganism, inquisition all of which have religious underpinnings, football fanatacism is I suspect a type of secular religion)
Other Comments by phasmagigas
30. Comment #92254 by Flagellant on November 30, 2007 at 6:31 am
I don't think Gillian Gibbons will be in danger when she gets back to the UK. The good thing about the issue is that many leading Mohammedans here have said publicly how ridiculous the whole thing is. Indeed, I think a group went/are going to Khartoum in her support.Longer term in the UK, it should help to stop some of the loonier of lunacies of the loonies, if you see what I mean.
God is strikingly grott, merdeiful.
Other Comments by Flagellant
31. Comment #92265 by nothanks on November 30, 2007 at 6:47 am
Unfortunatly I can't say I'm surprised by any of this. What was astonishing however were the words from our foreign office, I almost lost my lunch!!Shame
NT
Other Comments by nothanks
32. Comment #92266 by phasmagigas on November 30, 2007 at 6:50 am
I don't think Gillian Gibbons will be in danger when she gets back to the UK. The good thing about the issue is that many leading Mohammedans here have said publicly how ridiculous the whole thing is. Indeed, I think a group went/are going to Khartoum in her support.
I wouldnt be to sure. of course there are a good proportion (and i would hope the vast majority)of UK muslims who will see this as grotesque as anybody but there will be stirrings within young males who will now be suggesting that she should be killed, fear of reprisal keeps most from causing harm but of course we all know that they only answer to one authority. All i can hope is that Gibbons gets out of sudan as soon as possible.
Other Comments by phasmagigas
33. Comment #92272 by hungarianelephant on November 30, 2007 at 7:26 am
26. Comment #92236 by epeeist on November 30, 2007 at 5:45 amHopefully it might be more on the lines "These Brits are our second biggest aid donors and the chairman of the Anglo-Sudan working party in the House of Commons has just said they would be looking at the topic of aid again. We stand to lose money for our Swiss bank accounts, so sort it out."
That's a nice thing to hope, but it doesn't make it true. Remember Gaza?
27. Comment #92237 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on November 30, 2007 at 5:47 am
Really? As an Irishman I take the view that restraint has delivered a rich and stable neighbour, with almost the highest per capita earnings in the EU, buying British (and other EU) stuff hand over fist.
C'mon now, Brian, you don't really believe that. Ireland got its arse in gear quite independently of any actions of Britain, or indeed the IRA. In fact, the change in the 26 counties has been one of the main driving forces to peace in the North.
Do you think if the UK had been "doing something effective" we'd be were we are now?
Not exactly, no. I think Robert McCartney would probably still be alive, or at least that his killers would have been brought to justice. I think the Northern Bank would be £26m better off and I think that there wouldn't be as many shootings with former IRA guns in Dublin. But I am being facetious - your question is presumably whether we would now have the current settlement in the North, which we can probably agree is a Good Thing. To my mind, if the British government had not been so pathetically weak, we might have had one 7 years ago, and it would be dominated by genuinely constitutional politicians rather than semi-housetrained polecats such as Paisley and McGuinness.
To be clear, I am not one of those advocating the bombing of Khartoum. All I'm saying is that if you consistently reward bad behaviour with concessions and peace-and-blessings-be-upon-his-head platitudes, you can expect only one result.
Other Comments by hungarianelephant
34. Comment #92273 by AdrianB on November 30, 2007 at 7:31 am
Mohamed Teddy Bear for sale:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mohamed-Teddy-bear_W0QQitemZ330193980849QQihZ014QQcategoryZ117QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Buy it before the listing is pulled.
Other Comments by AdrianB
35. Comment #92329 by Bonzai on November 30, 2007 at 9:55 am
Now some people want to have her killed.You have to wonder what the hell is wrong with these fucking idiots.
Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher
Protests in Khartoum
Crowds of people have marched in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to call for a tougher sentence for a British teacher jailed for insulting religion...
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.
Some news agencies reported thousands of people took part in the protest, but a BBC reporter at the scene said up to a thousand marchers turned out.
According to some agencies, some of the protesters chanted: "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad".
One demonstrator told reporters that it was unacceptable to take a toy and call it Muhammad.
"We can't accept it from anybody. Even if they can do that in Europe, they cannot do it here in Sudan. We ask our rulers and judges to review what they have said. Fifteen days is not enough." ..
For more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7121025.stm
Other Comments by Bonzai
36. Comment #92335 by phasmagigas on November 30, 2007 at 10:07 am
the ebay seller of the mohammed bear is putting themselves at risk, and of course that is the problem and thats in part why this website exists. Other Comments by phasmagigas
37. Comment #92344 by Andy_P on November 30, 2007 at 10:19 am
I have just read with incredulity that there have been marches by these loons demanding that this lady is executed for her "crime".What gets me is that she has been charged, amongst other things, with 'inciting hatred', and yet these people are marching through the streets baying for blood.
Absolutle insanity.
Other Comments by Andy_P
38. Comment #92379 by davem on November 30, 2007 at 11:41 am
"the ebay seller of the mohammed bear is putting themselves at risk, and of course that is the problem and thats in part why this website exists."
Maybe more of us should do the same? If 100 people advertise Mohammed Teddy Bears this christmas, and raise a lot of cash for charity, wouldn't that be far more effective than a sending a gunship/abject tolerance?
..and make sure the Sudanese get to hear of it...
Other Comments by davem
39. Comment #92467 by fiath on November 30, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I wonder whether there is a possibility the Sudan media are twisting the story. I find it very hard to believe that those people would call for her death with the facts as has been presented to us in the west. Hopefully that will come out if true.I actually do feel for the many many muslims out there who have to put up with this kind of fundamentalism in the name of their faith.
Other Comments by fiath
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Unweaving the Rainbow
by Richard Dawkins
1. Comment #91864 by MartinSGill on November 29, 2007 at 1:25 pm
On the one hand the they've got the entire civilized world crying foul and their stupid adherence to a barbaric system and its diktats is highlighted to the world for the iron-age system it is.
On the other hand they've got the Islamic loony-hooligan-terrorists in their own country that will probably lynch them all and arise in insurrection if they don't come down on this teacher like a tonne of bricks.
They probably had no choice but to punish her. If they'd dismissed the charges the country would be in flames now.
As usual the religious loonies influence policy as they always have throughout history; with violence and the threat of violence.
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