Teddy Bear Teacher Convicted

A court in Sudan has convicted a British teacher of "insulting religion" for naming her classroom teddy bear Mohammed. She has been sentenced to 15 days in prison and to be deported from the country.

A British teacher accused of insulting Muslims after her class called a teddy bear Mohammed was found guilty and jailed for 15 days, a defence lawyer said tonight.

Gillian Gibbons, 54, was ordered to be deported after she had completed her sentence.

"She was found guilty of insulting religion and the sentence is 15 days (in jail) and deportation," defence lawyer Ali Ajib said after the trial in a Khartoum courtroom, which lasted less than a day.

Robert Boulos, head of Unity high school where Gibbons worked, said: "We are happy with the verdict. It is fair. There were a lot of political pressures and attention."

The teddy bear had been named Mohammed in a vote by the class, apparently. The school secretary was the informer who lodged the complaint against Gibbons. The only thing fair about the entire situation is that she gets out of Sudan and doesn't get 40 lashes.

No word on whether the New York Times will be running a new pull out section on the wonders of tourism in Sudan.

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  By feeblemind, Friday, 30 November , 2007 @ 7:49 am

  She is very fortunate to receive such a light sentence. This is what can happen when one goes off to help the people of the Religion of Peace. A lesson to us all.

Other Links to this Post

1. Blue Crab Boulevard » If The Authorities In Sudan Have Any Brains — Friday, 30 November , 2007 @ 8:42 am