This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7118245.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| UK teacher goes to court in Sudan | UK teacher goes to court in Sudan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A British teacher charged in Sudan with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs has been brought to court. | A British teacher charged in Sudan with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs has been brought to court. |
| Journalists were prevented from entering as Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, went inside. | Journalists were prevented from entering as Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, went inside. |
| She was arrested after complaints that her primary school pupils had called their class teddy bear Muhammad. | She was arrested after complaints that her primary school pupils had called their class teddy bear Muhammad. |
| The Prime Minister is taking a "close interest" in the case and has spoken to her family, his spokesman said. | The Prime Minister is taking a "close interest" in the case and has spoken to her family, his spokesman said. |
| And Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he hoped "common sense" would prevail in the case. | And Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he hoped "common sense" would prevail in the case. |
| The Sudanese legal system has to take its course but common sense has to prevail David MilibandUK Foreign Secretary class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7119391.stm">Bloggers condemn Sudan | |
| If convicted, Mrs Gibbons could face a prison sentence, a fine or 40 lashes. | If convicted, Mrs Gibbons could face a prison sentence, a fine or 40 lashes. |
| She was arrested on Sunday in Khartoum after allowing her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear in September. | She was arrested on Sunday in Khartoum after allowing her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear in September. |
| Muhammad is a popular name in mainly-Muslim Sudan, and a boy in Mrs Gibbons class has said he suggested to the class the teddy bear be named after himself. | Muhammad is a popular name in mainly-Muslim Sudan, and a boy in Mrs Gibbons class has said he suggested to the class the teddy bear be named after himself. |
| 'Chaotic' scenes | 'Chaotic' scenes |
| When she arrived at the building on Thursday Mrs Gibbons was taken with about 20 officers into one court before being ushered into another room - in scenes described as "chaotic" by BBC reporter Amber Henshaw. | When she arrived at the building on Thursday Mrs Gibbons was taken with about 20 officers into one court before being ushered into another room - in scenes described as "chaotic" by BBC reporter Amber Henshaw. |
| Embassy officials and her legal team were initially not granted access to her, but were later allowed in. | Embassy officials and her legal team were initially not granted access to her, but were later allowed in. |
| What can't be named Muhammad? | What can't be named Muhammad? |
| Meanwhile, in London Foreign Secretary David Miliband met the Sudan ambassador to discuss the case, reminding him of Britain's "long-standing tradition of religious tolerance". | Meanwhile, in London Foreign Secretary David Miliband met the Sudan ambassador to discuss the case, reminding him of Britain's "long-standing tradition of religious tolerance". |
| The UK government, which is providing consular support to Mrs Gibbon, said it was "very concerned" about the case but hoped it would be resolved swiftly. | The UK government, which is providing consular support to Mrs Gibbon, said it was "very concerned" about the case but hoped it would be resolved swiftly. |
| "The Sudanese legal system has to take its course but common sense has to prevail," Mr Miliband said. | "The Sudanese legal system has to take its course but common sense has to prevail," Mr Miliband said. |
| "It's not about disrespect for Sudan, it's about being absolutely clear that this is an innocent misunderstanding." | "It's not about disrespect for Sudan, it's about being absolutely clear that this is an innocent misunderstanding." |
| After the meeting with Ambassador Omer Siddig, Mr Miliband said he emphasised Britain's respect of Islam and the "close relations" between the two countries. | After the meeting with Ambassador Omer Siddig, Mr Miliband said he emphasised Britain's respect of Islam and the "close relations" between the two countries. |
| "The Sudanese Ambassador undertook to ensure our concerns were relayed to Khartoum at the highest level. | "The Sudanese Ambassador undertook to ensure our concerns were relayed to Khartoum at the highest level. |
| "He also said he would reflect back to Khartoum the real respect for the Islamic religion in this country." | "He also said he would reflect back to Khartoum the real respect for the Islamic religion in this country." |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds said the British government was treating the case as a consular issue and not a diplomatic incident, with Mr Miliband's approach being to avoid confrontation with Sudan. | BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds said the British government was treating the case as a consular issue and not a diplomatic incident, with Mr Miliband's approach being to avoid confrontation with Sudan. |
| Khalid al Mubarak, of the Sudanese embassy in London, said Mrs Gibbons had adequate support. | Khalid al Mubarak, of the Sudanese embassy in London, said Mrs Gibbons had adequate support. |
| If convicted Gillian Gibbons could face a prison sentence | If convicted Gillian Gibbons could face a prison sentence |
| "Like all legal systems the judge can decide to dismiss the whole thing or that the case goes on anyway. | "Like all legal systems the judge can decide to dismiss the whole thing or that the case goes on anyway. |
| "Mrs Gibbons has consular support, the British embassy has one of the best solicitors in the country whom I know personally. | "Mrs Gibbons has consular support, the British embassy has one of the best solicitors in the country whom I know personally. |
| "There is no worry on that front at all. She will be very well represented and well treated." | "There is no worry on that front at all. She will be very well represented and well treated." |
| Even though the British government has expressed concern about the arrest, Mr al Mubarak dismissed any suggestion that diplomatic relations had become strained, instead saying there had been "sensationalist" reporting. | Even though the British government has expressed concern about the arrest, Mr al Mubarak dismissed any suggestion that diplomatic relations had become strained, instead saying there had been "sensationalist" reporting. |
| "The general situation and relationship are very good now, with the exception of this minute and unexpected incident of Mrs Gibbons." | "The general situation and relationship are very good now, with the exception of this minute and unexpected incident of Mrs Gibbons." |
| 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. | 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 in Britain, the Islamic Human Rights Commission was among Muslim groups to call for her immediate release. | But in Britain, the Islamic Human Rights Commission was among Muslim groups to call for her immediate release. |
| Chairman Massoud Shadjareh said: "Both the Sudanese government and the media must refrain from using Islam and Islamic principles to legitimise this fiasco, which may result in the unjust conviction of an innocent person, and which will only lead to the promotion of Islamophobia and further demonisation of Islam." | Chairman Massoud Shadjareh said: "Both the Sudanese government and the media must refrain from using Islam and Islamic principles to legitimise this fiasco, which may result in the unjust conviction of an innocent person, and which will only lead to the promotion of Islamophobia and further demonisation of Islam." |
| And a spokesman for the Muslim youth organisation, the Ramadhan Foundation, said "this matter is not worthy of arrest or detention and her continued detention will not help repair the misconceptions about Islam." | And a spokesman for the Muslim youth organisation, the Ramadhan Foundation, said "this matter is not worthy of arrest or detention and her continued detention will not help repair the misconceptions about Islam." |