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/7119399.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
UK teacher jailed over teddy row | UK teacher jailed over teddy row |
(10 minutes later) | |
A British teacher has been found guilty in Sudan of insulting religion after she allowed her primary school class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | A British teacher has been found guilty in Sudan of insulting religion after she allowed her primary school class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. |
Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported. | |
She had been accused on three counts of insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. | |
The Foreign Office said it was extremely disappointed by the verdict after a day-long hearing in Khartoum. | |
The Sudanese ambassador is being called back to the Foreign Office to explain the decision. Officials there say the mood has changed as a result of the verdict. | |
Staff complaint | |
Earlier, Foreign Secretary David Miliband had met the Sudanese ambassador to discuss the case, stressing it was an "innocent misunderstanding". | Earlier, Foreign Secretary David Miliband had met the Sudanese ambassador to discuss the case, stressing it was an "innocent misunderstanding". |
In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad. | In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad. |
The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained. | The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained. |
Sudan's top clerics had 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 had 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. |
She could have faced up to 40 lashes. | She could have faced up to 40 lashes. |
The case had also prompted concern from the prime minister, Sudanese embassy officials in London and UK Muslim organisations, who all expressed the hope that Mrs Gibbons would be released. | The case had also prompted concern from the prime minister, Sudanese embassy officials in London and UK Muslim organisations, who all expressed the hope that Mrs Gibbons would be released. |