British officials are trying to secure the release of a British schoolteacher arrested in Sudan for letting her pupils name a teddy bear Muhammad.
British officials are trying to secure the release of a British schoolteacher arrested in Sudan for letting her pupils name a teddy bear Muhammad.
Gillian Gibbons, of Liverpool, may face blasphemy charges for insulting Islam's Prophet. A conviction could mean six months in jail, 40 lashes or a fine.
Gillian Gibbons, of Liverpool, may face blasphemy charges for insulting Islam's Prophet. A conviction could mean six months in jail, 40 lashes or a fine.
The Sudan Embassy in London said the situation was a "storm in a teacup", based on a cultural misunderstanding.
The Sudan Embassy in London said the situation was a "storm in a teacup", based on a cultural misunderstanding.
British embassy officials have visited Ms Gibbons, 54, in Khartoum prison.
British embassy officials have visited Ms Gibbons, 54, in Khartoum prison.
Parental complaints
Parental complaints
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he understood that Ms Gibbons had not been charged with any offence.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he understood that Ms Gibbons, who is now facing her third day in custody, had not been charged with any offence.
Mr Brown said consulate officials were in contact with Ms Gibbons' family, and said he felt "very sorry" about what was happening to her.
Mr Brown said consulate officials were in contact with Ms Gibbons' family, and that he felt "very sorry" about what was happening to her.
He said officials would continue their contacts with the Sudanese authorities to "clarify the position so that she can be released".
He said officials would continue to try to "clarify the position so that she can be released".
The toy bear was named in September as part of the class's study of animals and their habitats.
The toy was named in September after children were asked to vote on a name for a teddy bear as part of the class's study of animals and their habitats.
We don't have any teddy bears over here, so in Sudan, for us, it is a fierce and dangerous animal Dr Khalid al Mubarak, media counsellor, Sudan Embassy
We don't have any teddy bears over here, so in Sudan, for us, it is a fierce and dangerous animal Dr Khalid al Mubarak, media counsellor, Sudan Embassy
Several parents of children at the Christian Unity High School, in Khartoum, made complaints to the authorities leading to Ms Gibbons' arrest on Sunday.
Several parents of children at the Unity High School, in Khartoum, made complaints to the authorities leading to Ms Gibbons' arrest on Sunday.
It is seen as an insult to Islam to attempt to make an image of the Prophet Muhammad.
It is seen as an insult to Islam to attempt to make an image of the Prophet Muhammad.
But a seven-year-old pupil in Ms Gibbons' class at the Christian, fee-paying school has jumped to his teacher's defence.
BBC News Sudan correspondent, Amber Henshaw, said the boy had chosen the name because it was the same as his own, and he had no idea that it would cause offence.
He said that he liked Ms Gibbons and he hoped she would return to teach at the school.
Ms Gibbons has been suspended from her teaching post, and the school has closed until January.
Dr Khalid al Mubarak, a spokesman for the Sudan embassy in London, said that although he had not yet been able to speak to the investigating officer, procedure meant Ms Gibbons would have to be questioned and reports of the situation had been overblown.
Dr Khalid al Mubarak, a spokesman for the Sudan embassy in London, said that although he had not yet been able to speak to the investigating officer, procedure meant Ms Gibbons would have to be questioned and reports of the situation had been overblown.
He said Ms Gibbons' job as a teacher, as well as Britain's diplomatic ties with Sudan, would also be taken into consideration.
He said Ms Gibbons' job as a teacher, as well as Britain's diplomatic ties with Sudan, would also be taken into consideration.
'Horrible misunderstanding'
'Horrible misunderstanding'
Dr Mubarak said: "The way the British think of the teddy bear - as far as Christmas is concerned, and toys are concerned - we don't have any teddy bears over here, so in Sudan, for us, it is a fierce and dangerous animal.
Dr Mubarak said: "The way the British think of the teddy bear - as far as Christmas is concerned, and toys are concerned - we don't have any teddy bears over here, so in Sudan, for us, it is a fierce and dangerous animal.
"The cultural background is very different, that is a very important point.
"The cultural background is very different, that is a very important point.
"I expect that this will be treated as a minute complaint by a worried parent given the cultural background that bears do not have the same cuddly image.
"I expect that this will be treated as a minute complaint by a worried parent given the cultural background that bears do not have the same cuddly image.
"Basically, it's a storm in a teacup."
"Basically, it's a storm in a teacup."
Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, also said it appeared to have been a "quite horrible misunderstanding" and Ms Gibbons should never have been arrested.
Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, also said it appeared to have been a "quite horrible misunderstanding" and Ms Gibbons should never have been arrested.
There was no apparent intention to offend Islamic sensibilities or defame the honour and name of the Prophet Muhammad, he said.
There was no apparent intention to offend Islamic sensibilities or defame the honour and name of the Prophet Muhammad, he said.
Gillian Gibbons had been working in Khartoum since August
Gillian Gibbons had been working in Khartoum since August
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said Foreign Office officials were trying to calm things down.
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said Foreign Office officials were trying to calm things down.
Ms Gibbons, her constituent, was being held in reasonable conditions in custody but was upset by what had happened, she said.
Ms Gibbons, her constituent, was being held in reasonable conditions in custody but was upset by what had happened, she said.
And it was unclear how long it would be before Sudanese authorities decided whether to charge her, she added.
And it was unclear how long it would be before Sudanese authorities decided whether to charge her, she added.
"I hope common sense does prevail and the situation can be seen as what it is - and not an intended insult but something that was misunderstood," said Ms Ellman.
"I hope common sense does prevail and the situation can be seen as what it is - and not an intended insult but something that was misunderstood," said Ms Ellman.
Fair Trials International said it was hard to say what the teacher, her family and supporters could expect because information about the Sudanese legal system was scarce.
Fair Trials International said it was hard to say what the teacher, her family and supporters could expect because information about the Sudanese legal system was scarce.
Are you in Sudan? Do you feel offended by what the teacher did? Should she be punished? Send us your views using the form below:
Are you in Sudan? Do you feel offended by what the teacher did? Should she be punished? Send us your views using the form below:
