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| Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher | Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Crowds of people have marched in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to call for a tougher sentence for a UK teacher jailed for insulting religion. | Crowds of people have marched in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to call for a tougher sentence for a UK teacher jailed for insulting religion. |
| Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days on Thursday after allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days on Thursday after allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. |
| Some news agencies reported protesters had called for her to be shot. | Some news agencies reported protesters had called for her to be shot. |
| Muslim Labour peer Lord Ahmed is to lead a parliamentary group to Sudan to try to secure Mrs Gibbons' release. | Muslim Labour peer Lord Ahmed is to lead a parliamentary group to Sudan to try to secure Mrs Gibbons' release. |
| Lord Ahmed expects to meet the president and possibly the chief justice, and is travelling at the invitation of the Sudanese government. | Lord Ahmed expects to meet the president and possibly the chief justice, and is travelling at the invitation of the Sudanese government. |
| 'Kill her' | 'Kill her' |
| A Foreign Office spokesman has said Ms Gibbons said she was "fine" when visited by consular staff on Friday. | A Foreign Office spokesman has said Ms Gibbons said she was "fine" when visited by consular staff on Friday. |
| 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 href="/1/hi/world/africa/7120615.stm">Sudan's 'harsh' prisons 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. |
| Some news agencies reported thousands of people took part in the protest, but a BBC reporter at the scene said up to a thousand marchers turned out. | Some news agencies reported thousands of people took part in the protest, but a BBC reporter at the scene said up to a thousand marchers turned out. |
| According to some agencies, some of the protesters chanted: "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad". | According to some agencies, some of the protesters 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. | 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." | "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." | 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. | 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 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. |