Sudan Accuses Teacher of Islam Insult

[Breukelen advocaat]

It's clear that the extremists are looking for any and every excuse to persecute outsiders. Some scholars and other influential people from the moderate factions of the Muslim community are speaking up. Hopefully, the teacher got the hint and will go back to Britain as soon as she is released from prison.


Muslims: Teddy Bear Protesters Don't Represent Us

Muslim Moderates Speak Out Against the Conviction of a British Teacher in Sudan

Dec. 1, 2007 â??


A Sudanese court convicted a British teacher this week of insulting Islam, and sentenced her to 15 days in prison, followed by deportation.

Her crime was allowing her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad.

In Sudan, thousands of angry protestors have hit the streets, carrying clubs and knives, calling for her execution, furious at what think is a lenient sentence. The incident has outraged many in the West who cannot understand the severity of her crime.

Moderate Muslims have been swift to condemn the events in Sudan. Daisy Khan, director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, spoke to Bill Weir on "Good Morning America Weekend Edition" about how a school project escalated into a crisis over the Christian and Muslim cultural divide and why it should be seen only as fringe extremism.

Heresy or 'Faux Pas'?


"What we're looking at here is a cultural 'faux pas,' and there's a political undercurrent that's running through this furor," said Khan.

She rejected the idea that naming the Teddy Bear Muhammad was inherently blasphemous.


"There is nothing sacred about the name Muhammad and anybody can use that," she said.


The teacher, Gillian Gibbons, 54, named the bear Muhammad at the request of one of the boys in her class who wanted to name it after himself.

Muhammad is the most popular name for Muslim children. Typically, the name is reserved for people, but protestors feel that nonetheless Gibbons took the prophet's name in vain and have turned her into a symbol of Western malice.

"I think that what we're looking at is a difference of cultural expression," Khan said, "because most Muslims revere their prophets and don't name their prophets in vain.

Calls for Moderation


Khan rejected the idea that the protestors' actions were appropriate for devout believers.


"The Sudanese people need to be reminded that the prophet always said that the greatest gift you can give your children is the gift of education," Khan said.

In the United Kingdom, Muslim leaders were horrified about the incident.


"It's very, very sad, very embarrassing for us," said Dr. Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament in Great Britain, earlier this week. "The Muslim community here has also expressed that this is simply unacceptable behavior from the Sudanese government, and I think the Sudanese have got to realize that this episode is doing immense damage to their credibility outside."

Even in the Sudan, Islamic leaders have been speaking out.

"The greatest scholar in Sudan, Dr. Hassan al-Turabi, has himself condemned this," Khan said. "I think that's an indication that Muslims no longer want to remain silent and do not believe in these extremist views."

The AP contributed reporting to this article.

Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures
ABC News: Muslims: Sudan Protests Don't Represent Us

[RadioHead]

They're recognizing that its gone too far. Moderation and tolerance must happen, for the sake of their image as a whole.

[Ozarks]

Please try to get it right I do not hate America just American interference in countries that don't abide by Americas ideas of what is right and wrong.

This thread has nothing to do with America, but of course you don't care and can't comment on anything with out comparing it to some evil you see in America. The woman is from ENGLAND....HELLO

What gives the US the right to dictate to others ?
As I have already said in previous posts "hasn't Bush already proclaimed that it's the CHRISTIAN duty to oppose their (muslims) evil ideas"?

Again this is propaganda hate that you spew out nonstop, that has nothing to do with subject. The woman in question is an "aid worker" from ENGLAND...HELLO, but of course in your dark, sick, hateful mind the facts are not important, because you just know it's the evil, Bush, Christian, Americans fault.

Religious zealots are a plague that has no place in modern society but creating martyrs by killing your enemies will only lead to more violence.
I would be happy to see all religious groups wipe each other out .

So, killing is OK as long it's you anti-religious zealots killing the people YOU hate.

However in this case of the teacher who went to a Muslim country and didn't even do some basic research about the laws then all I can say is "stupid bloody woman".

The lesson that the woman from ENGLAND...HELLO was teaching was how "voting in a democracy worked".

Yea, the evil, Bush, Christan's of America let some "aid worker" from ENGLAND...HELLO go to Sudan and and gave a lesson to some 7 year olds how a majority of human beings on this planet choose their leaders in the 21st century.

Oh, the inhumanity of it, them bloody evil Americas.


Like I said you're stuck in a rut,boy.

[psychocat]

America has Christian fanatics calling for the death of any woman who dares to have an abortion , should we nuke the Bible belt too ?

This is NOT anti American if anything it is anti religion .

[PharmaCan]

Absolutely too many people live in their own world completely ignorant of other cultures.

Good point! So why are the muslim savages exempt from knowing about and respecting other cultures?

Why is it only Western cultures that are supposed to accommodate other cultures? Shouldn't this be a two-way street?

Why must America and Europe allow millions of muslims to live in our countries when they have no intention of assimilating to our cultures?

This catering to the muslims is soooo much bullshit. In the real world, you're only supposed to get out what you put in. I get really sick and tired of hearing about how everyone in the world should kiss muslim ass. It's political correctness run amok.

jmo

PC :smokin:

[RUTBpiping]

Good point! So why are the muslim savages exempt from knowing about and respecting other cultures?

Why is it only Western cultures that are supposed to accommodate other cultures? Shouldn't this be a two-way street?

Why must America and Europe allow millions of muslims to live in our countries when they have no intention of assimilating to our cultures?

This catering to the muslims is soooo much bullshit. In the real world, you're only supposed to get out what you put in. I get really sick and tired of hearing about how everyone in the world should kiss muslim ass. It's political correctness run amok.

jmo

PC :smokin:

Its having respect for others than yourselves but anyway.

[RadioHead]

Good point! So why are the muslim savages exempt from knowing about and respecting other cultures?

Why is it only Western cultures that are supposed to accommodate other cultures? Shouldn't this be a two-way street?

Why must America and Europe allow millions of muslims to live in our countries when they have no intention of assimilating to our cultures?

This catering to the muslims is soooo much bullshit. In the real world, you're only supposed to get out what you put in. I get really sick and tired of hearing about how everyone in the world should kiss muslim ass. It's political correctness run amok.

jmo

PC :smokin:

How much should we tolerate the intolerant? :wtf:

[psychocat]

I didn't have time to adress these points earlier so:

This thread has nothing to do with America, but of course you don't care and can't comment on anything with out comparing it to some evil you see in America. The woman is from ENGLAND....HELLO

Read the whole thread and you will find this

This is a problem that could be sorted out with a well placed nuclear bomb.

NCM

So I asked about the bible belt as an example of extreme Christianity, which you then took to mean all Americans.

Again this is propaganda hate that you spew out nonstop, that has nothing to do with subject. The woman in question is an "aid worker" from ENGLAND...HELLO, but of course in your dark, sick, hateful mind the facts are not important, because you just know it's the evil, Bush, Christian, Americans fault.

See Above

So, killing is OK as long it's you anti-religious zealots killing the people YOU hate.

I never said anything about killing anyone , I said it would be better if they all killed each other (they do it anyway) and the only real problem is that innocents get caught in the middle.

The lesson that the woman from ENGLAND...HELLO was teaching was how "voting in a democracy worked".

Well then she should've educated herself on the laws and customs of the country she was making her home.

Yea, the evil, Bush, Christan's of America let some "aid worker" from ENGLAND...HELLO go to Sudan and and gave a lesson to some 7 year olds how a majority of human beings on this planet choose their leaders in the 21st century.

Oh, the inhumanity of it, them bloody evil Americas.


Like I said you're stuck in a rut,boy.

My dislike of the Bush regime is no secret but as I have asked before does my dislike of a small group of Americans make me anti-American ?
That's about as logical as saying because I don't like rap then I must be anti-music.

Please try looking at the context before spouting such drivel.
Thank You.

[Ozarks]

Read the whole thread and you will find this

And that has what to do with America, stop pointing the finger at some else to justify your propaganda

So I asked about the bible belt as an example of extreme Christianity, which you then took to mean all Americans.

And that has what to with this thread, again you see EVERYTHING through a I hate America, America is bad lens. Comparing Christan's in America to these Muslim thugs, could you possibly be any more obtuse about a people and/or country that you are sure you know and are so opinionated about

I never said anything about killing anyone ,

You didn't

I said it would be better if they all killed each other (they do it anyway) and the only real problem is that innocents get caught in the middle.

So killing is OK as long you don't like the people being killed.

Well then she should've educated herself on the laws and customs of the country she was making her home.

Ya, and the 20 seven years who voted to name the teddy bear Mohamed they should be lashed too, after all they live there, whats their excuse.

In this one thread you have bad mouthed

Bush,

"hasn't Bush already proclaimed that it's the CHRISTIAN duty to oppose thier (muslims) evil ideas"?

When did he say that ?

Christan's

I would be happy to see all religious groups wipe each other out

Again Killing is OK by you.

America

American interference in countries that don't abide by Americas ideas of what is right and wrong.
What gives the US the right to dictate to others ?

America has nothing to do with it, try and focus.

As disgusting as it is, you've even manged to insult the victim of this hateful intolerance

then all I can say is "stupid bloody woman"

Please try looking at the context

I have looked at the "context" and you have blamed everyone and everything except the hateful 9th century mentality that is responsible for this

before spouting such drivel.Thank You.

When you can't discuss a subject without your every statement be polluted and colored by your bias and hate.. that's "drivel"

[psychocat]

A I stand by all I have said
B You took my reference to the Christian Extreme (The bible preachs violence) to mean all Americans and then you take the liberty of using my response to your deluded idea that I somehow meant all Americans to justify your anti America obsession.

A smart traveller does research on thier destination and everyone has a duty to themselves to always know what you are getting yourself into.

And as an end note I would like to say that if nutters want to kill each other and it doesn't affect anyone but the nutters then let them get on with it , unfortunately the reality is that it isn't just the nutters getting killed , it's innocents too .
So as far as I can see , until the world forgets religious bullshit we are always going to have one culture facing off another.

The only other option is to live and let live and I really don't see that happening too soon.

If you intend carrying on this farce of a discussion about wether I am anti American or not could we take it here http://boards.cannabis.com/politics/...merican-8.html