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 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| UK teacher goes to court in Sudan | UK teacher goes to court in Sudan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British teacher charged in Sudan with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs has appeared at court. | |
| Journalists were prevented from entering the court as Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, went inside. | Journalists were prevented from entering the court 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, the same name as the Muslim prophet. | She was arrested after complaints that her primary school pupils had called their class teddy bear Muhammad, the same name as the Muslim prophet. |
| The PM is taking a "close interest" in the case and has spoken to her family. | The PM is taking a "close interest" in the case and has spoken to her family. |
| 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 | The Sudanese legal system has to take its course but common sense has to prevail David MilibandUK Foreign Secretary |
| 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 into the courtroom. | Embassy officials and her legal team were initially not granted access to her, but were later allowed into the courtroom. |
| What can't be named Muhammad? | What can't be named Muhammad? |
| The hearing was expected to start at 2pm local time (1100 GMT), but has been delayed. | |
| Meanwhile, in London Foreign Secretary David Miliband met the Sudan ambassador to discuss the case. | |
| Before the meeting, he told reporters that he would express Britain's strong view that the incident was an "innocent misunderstanding" and hoped it would be resolved swiftly. | Before the meeting, he told reporters that he would express Britain's strong view that the incident was an "innocent misunderstanding" and hoped it would be resolved swiftly. |
| "The Sudanese legal system has to take its course but common sense has to prevail. | "The Sudanese legal system has to take its course but common sense has to prevail. |
| "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." |
| 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 sufficient support. | Khalid al Mubarak, of the Sudanese embassy in London, said Mrs Gibbons had sufficient support. |
| 'Sensationalist' reporting | 'Sensationalist' reporting |
| "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. |
| 'Unexpected' | 'Unexpected' |
| "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. |
| A Muslim youth organisation, the Ramadhan Foundation, called for Mrs Gibbons' immediate release. | A Muslim youth organisation, the Ramadhan Foundation, called for Mrs Gibbons' immediate release. |
| Spokesman Mohammed Shafiq said: "This matter is not worthy of arrest or detention and her continued detention will not help repair the misconceptions about Islam." | Spokesman Mohammed Shafiq said: "This matter is not worthy of arrest or detention and her continued detention will not help repair the misconceptions about Islam." |