Sudan teddy teacher charged with insulting religion

Nov 28 2007

LIVERPOOL teacher Gillian Gibbons has been charged by Sudanese authorities with insulting religion and inciting hatred, the Foreign Office confirmed today.

Mrs Gibbons allowed her seven-year-old pupils at the Unity School in Khartoum to name their class teddy bear Mohammed.

She was arrested on Sunday after a complaint was made to the Sudanese Ministry of Education.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "I can confirm Gillian Gibbons has been charged under article 125 of the Sudanese Criminal Code.

"The charges are insulting religion and inciting hatred."

Foreign Secretary David Miliband is to summon the Sudanese ambassador "as a matter of urgency" over the decision.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s spokesman said: "We are surprised and disappointed by this development and the Foreign Secretary will summon as a matter of urgency the Sudanese ambassador to discuss the matter further."

Mr Brown’s spokesman said the purpose of the meeting was "so we can get a clear explanation for the rationale behind the charges and a sense of what the next steps might be.

"We will consider our response in the light of that."

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he was "appalled" at today's decision.

He said: "This is a disgraceful decision and defies common sense.

"There was clearly no intention on the part of the teacher to deliberately insult the Islamic faith.

"The children in Ms Gibbons’ class and their parents have all testified as to her innocence in this matter.

"We call upon the Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir to intervene in this case without delay to ensure that Ms Gibbons is freed from this quite shameful ordeal."

Lord Steele, the former Liberal party leader, said tonight he was flying to Sudan on Monday as part of an all-party mission to improve relations with the country.

He said the pre-arranged meeting "couldn’t have come at a worse time" and promised to raise Mrs Gibbons’s plight with President al-Bashir.

Speaking to the BBC, Lord Steele said: "If she hasn’t been released we will raise the issue with the president at the highest level."

He added: "Under Sharia law there must intent and it is clear there has been no intent."

Speaking of the trip to Sudan, Lord Steele said he wanted President al-Bashir to overrule those responsible for charging Mrs Gibbons.

He added: "I hope the president of the country will have the authority to overrule these people and set her free."

Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman, Mrs Gibbons’s local Member of Parliament, said of the charges: "I am astounded.

"It was hoped the matter could be resolved by diplomatic means.

"I am now seeking a meeting with the Foreign Secretary to see what representations can now be made.

"This is an unacceptable escalation of an innocent situation."

Mrs Gibbons moved to Sudan in July after the break-up of her 32-year marriage to Peter Gibbons, also a teacher.

She had told friends she was loving her new life.

Religious leaders in Liverpool have appealed for the release of Mrs Gibbons,

The Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Rev James Jones spoke out as the 54-year-old faced her fourth night behind bars in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

Describing Gillian as "a sensitive person" who respected other faiths, he said: "It's obvious that Mrs Gibbons is well respected by the community in Khartoum.

"What we are getting is a very clear impression that the parents and pupils of that school recognise that she is an excellent teacher and a sensitive teacher.

"And if that's what is in question we are here to say she is a senstive person who respects the faith of other communities."

Mohammed Akbar Ali, leader of the Muslim community in Liverpool also urged the authorities in Sudan to pardon the school teacher.

He said: "I'm really surprised that Gillian has been charged with this offence.

"I can only hope that this was an innocent mistake and if she has apologised for what she has done I would urge the Sudan authorities to grant her a pardon.

"I'm sure she would never deliberately insult anybody, from what I have heard she is a very kind and caring human being.

"It seems everything has been blown completely out of proportion and to be threatened with 40 lashes or imprisonment is outrageous.

"What she has done is no doubt a very naive thing to do.

"But she is not a person who is radically trying to enforce her views in Sudan, it is just an innocent mistake from a respectable woman.

"But if she is working in Sudan she should have perhaps been more aware of the laws and religious beliefs of the people.

"If she has apologised for what she has done then it is preposterous that the authorities have charged her.

"However, if she is standing by her choice to allow the teddy bear to be called Mohammed, the authorities have no choice but to charge her.

"Regardless, the punishment is still very extreme and I very much hope it doesn't come to  40 lashes or imprisonment.

"It is very hard for the British Embassy to get involved now she has been charged but I still think there is room for compassion on behalf of the Sudanese authorities.

"I feel very sorry for her family, it must be a very unpleasant experience for everyone who is close to her.

"As for Gillian herself, she is in a foreign country and she must be very frightened right now.

"I can only wish the best to her family and hope that the situation gets resolved as soon as possible.

"Fingers crossed she escapes with a warning instead of a more harsh punishment."