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Shoot UK teacher, say protesters | Shoot UK teacher, say protesters |
(41 minutes later) | |
Thousands of people have marched in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to call for UK teacher Gillian Gibbons to be shot. | Thousands of people have marched in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to call for UK teacher Gillian Gibbons to be shot. |
Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed by a court on Thursday after allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed by a court on Thursday after allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. |
She was sentenced to 15 days for insulting religion, and she will then be deported. | She was sentenced to 15 days for insulting religion, and she will then be deported. |
A Foreign Office spokesman has said Ms Gibbons said she was "fine" when visited by consular staff on Friday. | |
'Kill her' | 'Kill her' |
The marchers took to the streets after Friday prayers to denounce the sentence as too lenient. | The marchers took to the streets after Friday prayers to denounce the sentence as too lenient. |
What we have here is a case of cultural misunderstandings Ali AlhadithiFederation of Student Islamic Societies Reaction to verdict 'Worst prisons in the world' Send us your comments | What we have here is a case of cultural misunderstandings Ali AlhadithiFederation of Student Islamic Societies Reaction to verdict 'Worst prisons in the world' Send us your comments |
The protesters gathered in Martyrs Square, outside the presidential palace in the capital, many of them carrying knives and sticks. | The protesters gathered in Martyrs Square, outside the presidential palace in the capital, many of them carrying knives and sticks. |
Marchers chanted "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad". | Marchers chanted "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad". |
One demonstrator told reporters that it was unacceptable to take a toy and call it Muhammad. | |
"We can't accept it from anybody. Even if they can do that in Europe, they cannot do it here in Sudan. We ask our rulers and judges to review what they have said. Fifteen days is not enough." | |
Hundreds of riot police were deployed but they did not break up the demonstration. | Hundreds of riot police were deployed but they did not break up the demonstration. |
The Foreign Office said it was seeking more details about the protest. | The Foreign Office said it was seeking more details about the protest. |
'Strongest terms' | 'Strongest terms' |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been in touch with Mrs Gibbons' family for a second time, speaking to a close relative of the teacher. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been in touch with Mrs Gibbons' family for a second time, speaking to a close relative of the teacher. |
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has expressed "in the strongest terms" the UK's concern at her detention. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has expressed "in the strongest terms" the UK's concern at her detention. |
On Friday afternoon a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Consular staff have visited her today and she said she is fine." | |
He said there were no plans to issue advice to British nationals living and working in Sudan in the light of the trouble, but diplomatic staff were keeping "a close eye" on the situation. | |
Mrs Gibbons allowed her class to name the teddy bear Muhammad Naming as Muhammad Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn Sudan | Mrs Gibbons allowed her class to name the teddy bear Muhammad Naming as Muhammad Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn Sudan |
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said he could not "see any justification" for the sentence, calling it an "absurdly disproportionate response" to a "minor cultural faux pas". | |
The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis), which represents more than 90,000 Muslim students in the UK and Ireland, said it was "deeply concerned" at what was a "gravely disproportionate" verdict. | The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis), which represents more than 90,000 Muslim students in the UK and Ireland, said it was "deeply concerned" at what was a "gravely disproportionate" verdict. |
The federation's president, Ali Alhadithi, said: "What we have here is a case of cultural misunderstandings, and the delicacies of the matter demonstrate that it was not the intention of Gillian Gibbons to imply any offence against Islam or Muslims. | The federation's president, Ali Alhadithi, said: "What we have here is a case of cultural misunderstandings, and the delicacies of the matter demonstrate that it was not the intention of Gillian Gibbons to imply any offence against Islam or Muslims. |
"We hope that the Sudanese authorities will take immediate action to secure a safe release for Gillian Gibbons." | "We hope that the Sudanese authorities will take immediate action to secure a safe release for Gillian Gibbons." |
In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats. | In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats. |
The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education. | The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education. |
Do you have a family member in prison abroad? The BBC would like to speak to you about your experience. Please use the form below to send us your details. | Do you have a family member in prison abroad? The BBC would like to speak to you about your experience. Please use the form below to send us your details. |