1,000s In Sudan Call For Death To Brit "Blasphemer"

The verdict is in: Gillian Gibbons was sentenced to 15 days in prison, and expulsion from Sudan for the preposterous claim she insulted Islam by allowing her students to name a Teddy Bear "Muhammad". And, as if 15 days in prison wasn't enough to mollify the usual masses of Muslim overreactors, 1,000s of Sudanese took to the streets (weapons in hand) to protest the sentence and demand that Gibbons be executed... by firing squad. Yes indeed, they emerged from their Mosques this morning, those dens of peace and tolerance, gathered en masse outside the presidential palace shouting

"No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

Others marched to the school (which understandably has been closed since the incident) and then headed towards the British Embassy, before they were stopped several blocks from the facility. Although another Muslim cleric at the main Martyrs Mosque in Khartoum fell short of calling for Gibbon's execution, he did accuse her of intentionally insulting Islam, enough to incite these ordinary Muslims to action. Abdul- Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri told his flock that

"Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan. But we welcome imprisonment and expulsion" "This an arrogant woman who came to our country, cashing her salary in dollars, teaching our children hatred of our Prophet Muhammad."

As if any westerner would be moronic enough to intentionally criticize Islam in a predominately Muslim country knowing full well what little it takes to inspire violence and the ensuing fatwas. At least Muslims in Britain have copped to the ludicrous nature of the verdict, doled out by their brethren in Sudan, but that does little to ameliorate the current situation, and the fact that she was even arrested to begin with. I also find the use of the words "satisfy the thirst" to be very telling.

Rather than having to walk on egg shells in Islamic countries that show no tolerance of others, I suggest we pull out all western interests, including ngo aid programmes and see how quickly they might change their tune.

An anonymous commenter on my original post about Gillian recommended a link to cafepress which has some interesting information on the left sidebar. You can find the address to the Embassy of Sudan in D.C., some information regarding the Q'ran and Hadith's takes on graven images..looks like the Sudanese have misinterpreted their teachings... and links to items that you can buy to show your support.

Some interesting stuff on Hot Air and Michelle Malkin. And GrandWeepers asks an interesting question in his latest, "Are those countries most in need driving away those who want to help?"

I say, yes!

"Muhammad" Bear Lands Brit Teacher In Jail

"Hello, my name is Muhammad!"

Imagine being jailed simply for calling a stuffed animal "Jesus" or "Buddha". It would never occur in the west, but change locales and switch the name to "Muhammad" and that's exactly what happened to a British schoolteacher in the mess of a country called Sudan.

Gillian Gibbons, a teacher at the private British International, Unity High School in Khartoum (where both Christians and Muslims are taught an English curriculum) was arrested on Sunday for insulting Islam. Her crime: allowing her pupils to name a fuzzy little teddy bear Muhammad.

For a school project about bears, children were asked to choose a name for a teddy bear that one 7-year-old girl brought in to share with the others. They would each be allowed to take home this adopted stuffed animal on weekends, and were asked to write a diary about what they did with it. The 6 and 7-year-olds chose 8 commonly used names including Hassan, Abdullah and, yes, the infamous Muhammad. 20 of the 23 students fancied the latter, so the bear was duly named Muhammad. A compilation of the diary entries were bound together, and a picture of the bear with "My name is Muhammad" graced the cover of the book.

This was back in September, and according to a British Embassy spokesman the parents had no problems with the bear being named Muhammad at that time. And there is no indication as to why, months later, several parents decided to complain to the authorities, which then led to Gibbon's wholly, unwarranted arrest.

Rabie Atti (a Sudanese government spokesman) has said:

"If she is innocent, she will be set free."

adding

"I hope she didn't mean what the people thought."

In other words, that she willfully, and consciously chose to insult Islam. As though someone would be stupid enough to offend "the Prophet" in a predominately Muslim country. I think not. He does concede that she might not have meant to offend Islam, but that if she did, she will be punished.

For this innocent infraction of an absurd Islamic law, she could receive a 6 month jail term, a fine or 40 lashes!

Don't you just love a civilized, modern justice system!

UPDATE 11/27:

There is now talk that a fellow teacher (from a conservative family in Khartoum) filed the complaint. Was someone jealous of this new teacher? Gibbons just started the 1st of a 2 year stint in Sudan, and was apparently well liked by all.

UPDATE 11/29:

Gillian Gibbons has been charged with inciting hatred towards Islam! Ironically when the Muslim world does these kinds of things, they do exactly that! She faces 4o lashes.