30/11/2007
Sudan Protestors Call For Teacher's Death
Sudanese protestors took to the streets in their thousands on Friday to protest about the trial of British school teacher Gillian Gibbons, jailed over naming a teddy bear in her class 'Mohammed'.
They demonstrated outside the presidential palace, saying the 15-day prison sentence imposed on Mrs Gibbons for allowing her class to call a teddy bear after the Prophet was too lenient.
The protesters, many carrying knives and sticks, streamed out of mosques after sermons, as pick-up trucks with loudspeakers blared messages against Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool.
Hundreds of riot police were deployed as demonstrators massed in central Martyrs Square, outside the palace.
“Shame, shame on the UK,” protesters chanted, and they called for Mrs Gibbons’ execution, saying: “No tolerance: Execution,” and “Kill her, kill her by firing squad.”
The women’s prison where Gibbons is being held is far from the site, as is the Unity High School where she taught, which is under heavy security protection.
The protest flared despite vows by Sudanese security officials yesterday, during the trial that threatened demonstrations after today's prayers would not take place.
Some of the protesters, who one reporter at the scene said numbered as many as 10,000, carried clubs, knives and axes – but not automatic weapons, which some have carried at past government-condoned demonstrations, suggesting the rally was not organised by the government.
During the sermons, the Muslim cleric at Khartoum’s main Martyrs Mosque denounced Gibbons, saying she intentionally insulted Islam - but he did not call for protests.
“Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan. But we welcome imprisonment and expulsion,” the cleric, Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri, a well-known hard-liner, told worshippers: “This an arrogant woman who came to our country, cashing her salary in dollars, teaching our children hatred of our Prophet Muhammad.”
See: Release Of Teddy Bear Insult Teacher Sought
(BMcC)
They demonstrated outside the presidential palace, saying the 15-day prison sentence imposed on Mrs Gibbons for allowing her class to call a teddy bear after the Prophet was too lenient.
The protesters, many carrying knives and sticks, streamed out of mosques after sermons, as pick-up trucks with loudspeakers blared messages against Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool.
Hundreds of riot police were deployed as demonstrators massed in central Martyrs Square, outside the palace.
“Shame, shame on the UK,” protesters chanted, and they called for Mrs Gibbons’ execution, saying: “No tolerance: Execution,” and “Kill her, kill her by firing squad.”
The women’s prison where Gibbons is being held is far from the site, as is the Unity High School where she taught, which is under heavy security protection.
The protest flared despite vows by Sudanese security officials yesterday, during the trial that threatened demonstrations after today's prayers would not take place.
Some of the protesters, who one reporter at the scene said numbered as many as 10,000, carried clubs, knives and axes – but not automatic weapons, which some have carried at past government-condoned demonstrations, suggesting the rally was not organised by the government.
During the sermons, the Muslim cleric at Khartoum’s main Martyrs Mosque denounced Gibbons, saying she intentionally insulted Islam - but he did not call for protests.
“Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan. But we welcome imprisonment and expulsion,” the cleric, Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri, a well-known hard-liner, told worshippers: “This an arrogant woman who came to our country, cashing her salary in dollars, teaching our children hatred of our Prophet Muhammad.”
See: Release Of Teddy Bear Insult Teacher Sought
(BMcC)
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30 November 2007
Release Of Teddy Bear Insult Teacher Sought
The UK Foreign Office is continuing efforts to attempt to secure the release of a British teacher who has been jailed for 15 days in Sudan for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, received the sentence and will be deported once it has been completed.
Release Of Teddy Bear Insult Teacher Sought
The UK Foreign Office is continuing efforts to attempt to secure the release of a British teacher who has been jailed for 15 days in Sudan for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, received the sentence and will be deported once it has been completed.
29 November 2007
Jail Term For Sudan Teddy Bear Teacher
A British teacher has been jailed in the Sudan for insulting religion after naming her classes' teddy bear Muhammad. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has now been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported. She escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.
Jail Term For Sudan Teddy Bear Teacher
A British teacher has been jailed in the Sudan for insulting religion after naming her classes' teddy bear Muhammad. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has now been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported. She escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.
04 December 2007
Sudan Teacher Returns To The UK
A British teacher who was jailed in Sudan after allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad has returned to the UK. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool spent more than a week in jail for insulting Islam before being released. She received a pardon from the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir on Monday.
Sudan Teacher Returns To The UK
A British teacher who was jailed in Sudan after allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad has returned to the UK. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool spent more than a week in jail for insulting Islam before being released. She received a pardon from the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir on Monday.
03 December 2007
Sudanese Pardon Teacher
Jailed teacher Gillian Gibbons is to be released from prison in Sudan today after she was locked up for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days by a court in Sudan. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting with two British Muslim peers.
Sudanese Pardon Teacher
Jailed teacher Gillian Gibbons is to be released from prison in Sudan today after she was locked up for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days by a court in Sudan. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting with two British Muslim peers.