NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 26 ?? The Sudanese police arrested a British schoolteacher and accused her of insulting Islam after she allowed her 7-year-old pupils to name a class teddy bear Muhammad, Sudanese officials said Monday.

The teacher, Gillian Gibbons, was arrested Sunday in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, after a number of parents complained, said Rabie A. Atti, a government spokesman. ??How can you call a bear Muhammad?? he said. ??Muhammad is the holy prophet of Islam.?

Dr. Rabie said the authorities had obtained a letter Ms. Gibbons sent home with students explaining that her primary school class was doing a project on animals and had adopted a teddy bear named Muhammad.

??Her letter said there was an intelligent bear named Muhammad, and the letter instructed parents to take pictures with this bear,? Dr. Rabie said. ??This is not acceptable, according to the general opinion of our society.?

In Islam, insulting the Prophet Muhammad is considered a grave offense, and the law of northern Sudan, where Khartoum lies, makes this a crime.

Unity School, where Ms. Gibbons taught, is known as one of the more expensive private schools in Khartoum. The students are the children of wealthy Sudanese families and foreign diplomats, a mix of mostly Muslims and Christians, and the lessons are in English.

Ms. Gibbons is in jail, pending further investigation, Dr. Rabie said. ??If she is innocent, she will be set free,? he said.

If she is guilty, Dr. Rabie said, she will face punishment, possibly including lashes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/wo...tml?ref=africa

Lashings for naming a Teddy Bear Muhammad. What's next?

Have a good one!:s4:
Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on . Sudan Accuses Teacher of Islam Insult NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 26 ?? The Sudanese police arrested a British schoolteacher and accused her of insulting Islam after she allowed her 7-year-old pupils to name a class teddy bear Muhammad, Sudanese officials said Monday. The teacher, Gillian Gibbons, was arrested Sunday in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, after a number of parents complained, said Rabie A. Atti, a government spokesman. ??How can you call a bear Muhammad?? he said. ??Muhammad is the holy prophet of Islam.? Dr. Rating: 5