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| Teacher charged over teddy row | Teacher charged over teddy row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British teacher has been charged in Sudan with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. | A British teacher has been charged in Sudan with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. |
| The Foreign Office has confirmed that charges have been laid against Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool. | The Foreign Office has confirmed that charges have been laid against Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool. |
| She was arrested in Khartoum after allowing her class of primary school pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | She was arrested in Khartoum after allowing her class of primary school pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he will summon the Sudanese ambassador "as a matter of urgency". | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he will summon the Sudanese ambassador "as a matter of urgency". |
| In a statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "surprised and disappointed" at the charges. | In a statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "surprised and disappointed" at the charges. |
| A spokesman said the first step was to "understand the rationale behind the charge", something which would be discussed by Mr Miliband and the ambassador as soon as possible. | A spokesman said the first step was to "understand the rationale behind the charge", something which would be discussed by Mr Miliband and the ambassador as soon as possible. |
| 'Shameful ordeal' | 'Shameful ordeal' |
| "We will consider our response in the light of that," he added. | "We will consider our response in the light of that," he added. |
| Lawyers say Mrs Gibbons faces six months in jail, 40 lashes or a fine if convicted. | Lawyers say Mrs Gibbons faces six months in jail, 40 lashes or a fine if convicted. |
| Sudanese state media said prosecutors had completed their investigation and decided to charge Mrs Gibbons under Article 125 of the Sudanese criminal code. | Sudanese state media said prosecutors had completed their investigation and decided to charge Mrs Gibbons under Article 125 of the Sudanese criminal code. |
| What can't be named Muhammad? | What can't be named Muhammad? |
| The BBC's Amber Henshaw, in Khartoum, said Mrs Gibbons was expected to appear in court on Thursday. | The BBC's Amber Henshaw, in Khartoum, said Mrs Gibbons was expected to appear in court on Thursday. |
| The Muslim Council of Britain reacted angrily to the news, saying it was "appalled" and demanded Mrs Gibbons' immediate release. | The Muslim Council of Britain reacted angrily to the news, saying it was "appalled" and demanded Mrs Gibbons' immediate release. |
| "This is a disgraceful decision and defies common sense. There was clearly no intention on the part of the teacher to deliberately insult the Islamic faith," said Secretary-General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, in a strongly-worded statement. | "This is a disgraceful decision and defies common sense. There was clearly no intention on the part of the teacher to deliberately insult the Islamic faith," said Secretary-General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, in a strongly-worded statement. |
| "We call upon the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, to intervene in this case without delay to ensure that Ms Gibbons is freed from this quite shameful ordeal," said Dr Bari. | "We call upon the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, to intervene in this case without delay to ensure that Ms Gibbons is freed from this quite shameful ordeal," said Dr Bari. |
| Possible acquittal | |
| Mrs Gibbons taught at the fee-paying Unity High School in Khartoum and the school's director, Robert Boulos, said earlier: "This is a very sensitive issue. We are very worried about her safety. | Mrs Gibbons taught at the fee-paying Unity High School in Khartoum and the school's director, Robert Boulos, said earlier: "This is a very sensitive issue. We are very worried about her safety. |
| But I think the lady, she hasn't got any intention to insult the Islamic religion, therefore I am sure, very sure that if she went to the court she might be acquitted Ghazi Suleiman, Sudanese MP | |
| Earlier, the Sudanese Embassy in London said the situation was a "storm in a teacup" and signalled that the teacher could be released soon, attributing the incident to a cultural misunderstanding. | Earlier, the Sudanese Embassy in London said the situation was a "storm in a teacup" and signalled that the teacher could be released soon, attributing the incident to a cultural misunderstanding. |
| But Sudan's top clerics have called for the full measure of the law to be used against Mrs Gibbons and labelled her actions part of a Western plot against Islam. | But Sudan's top clerics have called for the full measure of the law to be used against Mrs Gibbons and labelled her actions part of a Western plot against Islam. |
| "What has happened was not haphazard or carried out of ignorance, but rather a calculated action and another ring in the circles of plotting against Islam," the Sudanese Assembly of the Ulemas said a statement. | "What has happened was not haphazard or carried out of ignorance, but rather a calculated action and another ring in the circles of plotting against Islam," the Sudanese Assembly of the Ulemas said a statement. |
| The semi-official clerics body is considered relatively moderate and is believed to have the ear of the Sudanese government. | The semi-official clerics body is considered relatively moderate and is believed to have the ear of the Sudanese government. |
| A Sudanese human rights lawyer and Member of Parliament countered that Mrs Gibbons may be acquitted or simply fined under the discretion of the magistrate. | |
| "It is not imperative to lash her, it is not imperative to send her to prison," said Ghazi Suleiman. "But I think the lady, she hasn't got any intention to insult the Islamic religion, therefore I am sure, very sure that if she went to the court she might be acquitted." | |
| Mrs Gibbons was arrested on Sunday after several parents made complaints to Sudan's Ministry of Education. | Mrs Gibbons was arrested on Sunday after several parents made complaints to Sudan's Ministry of Education. |
| The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said the situation could potentially become a very serious diplomatic incident. | The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said the situation could potentially become a very serious diplomatic incident. |
| Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials Abroad, told BBC News 24 that getting fair legal representation for Mrs Gibbons is a priority: "We are shocked and dismayed as I think many people are." | Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials Abroad, told BBC News 24 that getting fair legal representation for Mrs Gibbons is a priority: "We are shocked and dismayed as I think many people are." |