Reason's Hit and Run blog reports that a British schoolteacher is will be tried for "blasphemy, inciting hatred, and insulting Islam" because she named a teddy bear Muhammad.
Contrary to reassurances from the Sudanese embassy in London, Gillian Gibbons, the British teacher in Khartoum who did not realize naming a teddy bear Muhammad was verboten, has been charged with blasphemy, inciting hatred, and insulting Islam. The possible penalties include a fine, 40 lashes, and six months in jail. The government promises a "swift and fair trial," saying, "she will be brought in front of a judge, and now she must prove her innocence"—which gives you a sense of how the court system works in Sudan. Gibbons' lawyer says the defense will be straightforward: She had "absolutely no intention to insult religion, and for blasphemy to take place there must be an insult."
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According to the BBc, she's been jailed for 15 days
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7119399.stm
in my time in Muslim countries i met allot of Muhammad's and Ali's for that matter. Not to mention all Jesus's in Latin America. Not once did anyone get charged with blasphemy for drinking with me.
Yet being a teacher, living is Sudan, and not understanding they have a Theocratic Dictatorship is foolish to say the least.
Is it possible to blaspheme Islam in Sudan without inciting hatred and insulting the religion? I mean, I know this is nonsense from all angles, but it's kind of like charging her with assault, murder, and manslaughter for killing a man with one stab of a knife. The charges are trumped-up already, redundancy will not help.
I hope she wasn't there to teach them how to accept others. Cause' it didn't work.
Did I mention she probably should not have gone there?
Having spent several spells in Sudanese jails my heart goes out to Ms Gibbons.
By the way, there's a town in Sudan called Boing. It is in Upper Nile, just near theborder between nort and south Sudan
Unlike Sudan, we in America have no laws against blasphemy. However, I am certain that this woman would face at least as hard of a time in the US if she named a teddy bear Jesus.
I just had a call from an old friend who was flogged in Sudan some years ago. He is currently being chased by half the world's media wanting to know what it was like...
"It hurt like a motherf*****! What did you THINK it felt like?!"
UPDATE: They just sentenced her. 15 days in jail and deportation. Lucky for her. Now you just have to hope that no one decides to try and kill her before (or after) she is back in Britain, as there have already been calls for her death. However, they seem to be taking her security pretty seriously.
On another note... Crank #6
"...I am certain that this woman would face at least as hard of a time in the US if she named a teddy bear Jesus."
Please tell me you are joking? They make sex toys in the shape of the cross here and Andres Serrano does not seem to have been lashed or jailed by anyone for Piss Christ to mention a couple examples.
Now try dipping a Koran or image of Muhammad in urine in Sudan (or anywhere in the Middle East) and see where that gets you.
Yet being a teacher, living is Sudan, and not understanding they have a Theocratic Dictatorship is foolish to say the least.
I am sure she made the ludicrous mistake of logically considering that she wasn't being offensive by letting children vote on a teddy bear's name. I mean the gall of her... she should have known... let's blame the victim... I mean it would be insane to blame the repressive theocracy.
This just in!! "Muhammad Ali realizes he blasphemed Islam in 1964, changes his name back to Cassius Clay."
Of course the name "Muhammad Ali" in the middle east is like "John Smith" in the US, perhaps the teacher should have stipulated that the doll be named "Muhammad Ali" rather than just "Muhammad." I hope I would have had the foresight to do so in that situation.
Of course, she was following the wishes of the schoolchildren, are they to be tried too?
What a PR blow for the Sudan.
From the article:
"the British teacher who allowed her Sudanese class to name their teddy bear Mohamed"
- the teacher herself did not even name the bear. The children did. Supposedly (from another report), a child called Mohamed, who admits to naming it after himself.
I would have to include style points if it had at least been a stuffed pig! I mean, Cheeses Crisps, how freaking anal can a culture be when they can only touch said anus with a single hand? True enough, we in the US are quite spoiled by our constantly dwindling "freedom of speech" and should be more aware of other cultures, but,.....did I say Cheeses Crisps already? Get over yourselves, people named after cheesecloth! There are pure assholes named Mohammed in this world, and it's just a freaking stuffed bear, for Mo's sake!
Someone slap somebody please; soon and hard! :( And buy me a Danish, or a Danish cartoon, while you're at it!
Then again, perhaps she will make a good martyr for our side, even without the peskiness of having to blow herself up.
Please tell me you are joking? They make sex toys in the shape of the cross here and Andres Serrano does not seem to have been lashed or jailed by anyone for Piss Christ to mention a couple examples.
Neither of those people teach in schools though.
A quick search on google reveals:
Teacher: I was fired, said Bible isn't literal
I'm sure there are plenty more. We may not lash or jail people here, but you are naive if you think you can get away with blasphemy in this country without facing serious problems.
From the few reports I read, this case seems to be getting quite a bit of attention in Sudan, which must've amounted to a fair deal of pressure on the government to make an example of her to other foreigners. It could've been worse: flogging or a longer jail term.
I'm not saying that I agree with the sentence, but I see this as a case where the Sudanese government was uncomfortable with the international outrage, but couldn't afford the domestic political cost of letting her go scot free. Two weeks and a deportation is a compromise that lets the government appear strong and decisive, yet won't really piss anyone off too much. Also, her deportation will keep all potential vigilantes away from her.
Again, I think it's a stupid misunderstanding and no one should ever be jailed for naming teddy bears. But given the apparent domestic pressures around this case, it could've had a much nastier end for the poor teacher.
Guess how much I respected Sudan's version of Islam before this occurrence.
Guess how much my respect has improved since then.
But then, what the world needs is not freedom of religion, but freedom from religion.
The ultra-religious are always humorless. take themselves far too seriously because they think they know all the answers. Some societies more, some less, I guess. But I can't imagine them printing this Reuters blog article in Sudan any time soon:
http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/3159/2007/10/28-224605-1.htm
It says the teddy bear is the one in jail!
This might also be of interest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law_in_the_United_Kingdom
Although it looks like the last time it was seriously enforced was in the late 1970's when two men were fined, and one was sentenced for publishing a poem, The Love that Dares to Speak its Name.
I don't understand. I have a good friend named Mohammed. And another guy who works here as well.
I mean, they aren't fuzzy cuddly teddy bears, but neither guy is exactly a religious prophet either.
What's the difference? Is it because it's inanimate?
I mean, clearly naming the bear was done as a tribute to the prophet, if anything, not an insult.
I'm confused.
@CANK
I will admit that a fair amount of people in the US and UK are still very touchy about religion. But there is still no equating your professor example and this example of the teacher in Sudan.
They are in no way the same. In the example you posted. A professor may have been fired (at least he claims so) because of denigrating religion. People seem to be pissed off that it happened and in the US it is wrong for this to happen.
In the Sudan example. A teacher is for sure being prosecuted by the government for insulting religion. The government specifically goes after anyone that says anything bad about Islam (I doubt they extend that "protection" to any other religion). It is written into their law. It is not a mistake or an outrage if someone is prosecuted for insulting Islam. It is an outrage there if they are not prosecuted.
Also notice how instead of being outraged that a woman would be prosecuted this way the government is forced to provide massive protection to this teacher so she is not killed.
As far as the UK law goes for blasphemous libel. It doesn't look like it is even valid law anymore.
From the article:
The passage of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires the courts to interpret the law in a way that is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The offence of blasphemous libel is believed by some to be contrary to the freedom of speech provisions in the ECHR. However, just before the introduction of the HRA, a claim that the blasphemy law is inconsistent with art.10 of the ECHR (providing for freedom of expression) was rejected in the case of Wingrove v UK (1997).
This BBC article has some good points:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7115821.stm
For one, it appears that many Muslims wouldn't have a problem with naming an inanimate object Mohammed (as long as it isn't done with the intention to insult), but the Sudanese tend to be unusually rigid on this stuff.
Also, one of reader comments makes this important point:
"What we really have here is a non-Muslim teacher in a school run by a non-Muslim board that allows Muslims and non-Muslims to educate and be educated together. While some would applaud this, I am sure that many "Islamists" in Sudan would be appalled at such a thing and have been waiting for an excuse to close the school down."
On hearing about this story, I've renamed my own stuffed (male) toy Muhammed, alongside his mate Rosie, and I blogged about it.
Almost immediately someone commented anonymously, with a temporary email address, saying 'that was brave'. Sigh. If you take a stand, you should have the courage to do it under your own name.
Andrew Denny
[i]Neither of those people teach in schools though.
A quick search on google reveals:
Teacher: I was fired, said Bible isn't literal[/i]
Being fired from shool means you did sth that made shool authority think, they don't need you any more.
Yes, ofcourse it's pretty stupid reason to be fired. But it's not such a big problem to get fired for not being liked by your boss in any free society.
Your boss being jerk who won't tolerate other perspectives is
no big deal.
However landing in law's crosshair for religious faux pass =/= loosing job.
@Cank: You said "at least as hard of a time," and losing your part time job is not the same as facing jail time, lashes, and/or deportation.
And I doubt even the reason he lost his job - it isn't verifiable and is in fact denied by his former employer.
Cank (6), I believe I can answer that question right now:
King Jesus Teddy Bear
Jesus Is My Therapist teddy bear (non-ironic)
Jesus Loves Me bear
Avon Jesus Loves Me bear
Jesus Loves You teddy bear
Jesus Loves You teddy bear shirts
Praise, the God Bless Baby bear
Christian Ministry Teddy Bear Monastery
Archbishop of Canterbury bear
A different Archbishop of Canterbury bear
Anglican female bishop bear
Talking Jesus Action Figure
Talking Jesus, Mary, and Moses action figures
Snuggly "Goodnight Jesus" doll
Snuggly, Trouserless Jesus Doll
Bobblehead Jesus
Jesus does Liberace tree-topper
Jesus Hot Air Balloon
Jesus Snowglobe
Jesus Playing Footie
Jesus Playing Footie again
Jesus Christ on a Bicycle
Jesus Christ on a Frying Pan
Jesus Poker Chips
Jesus Ashtray
Jesus, Baby Jesus, Virgin Mary, Moses, and God the Father Butt Plugs
What Would Buddy Jesus Buy?
Enoch_Root: I agree w/what you are saying. My only point was that we should be careful to look at ourselves before we (rightfully) condemn what has happened in Sudan. What would happen here? Obviously not lashing. No jail time. But loss of job? Probably a law suit? Probably both, and even the strong possibility of being blacklisted from public schools. And there would likely be the threat of physical attack (ask the judge in the Dover intelligent design school board case). In Britain, it appears that there is actually laws on the books which could be used to prosecute the lady. And although it appears the law is almost dead in the water there, a group is using the law to try to sue the BBC for airing a musical about Jerry Springer.?!
Aren't most of the people in the Middle East named Muhammad anyway? Where's the blasphemy in a teddy bear? For implying Muhammad & his people are cute & cuddly & lovable?
Cank, I regularly look at my native land. Sudan's no comparison.
the problem for fundamentalists is that images of the Nabi is forbidden.
I'm guessing, but I assume that it's something like, "Mohammed was a man, so naming a child after him isn't blasphemy, it's just the hope that he'll grow to be like Mohammed, peace be unto him. But naming a soul-less animal after the Prophet can only be an insult, since the animal has no comprehension of the meaning of the name, let alone the meaning of His words." It's logical, given a certain mindset.
"Unlike Sudan, we in America have no laws against blasphemy. However, I am certain that this woman would face at least as hard of a time in the US if she named a teddy bear Jesus."
Aside from the fact that it is unlikely a teacher would face actual jail time or deportation (let alone risk a lashing) for such an act in the U.S., it's really not a fair comparison. "Mohammed" is the most common first name in the world, whereas almost nobody outside of Latin America is named "Jesus." It's easy to see how a non-Muslim could make such a cultural blunder.
Guess how i feel about this!
I like how they're being lenient by not lashing her.
stop lashing people over your ign... well... you know how i feel.
hope she leaves the country when she's done. Its obvious how they want their kids raised.
It's as Nelson said. The trouble is that the bear, an inanimate object, was named Mohammed. This was all thanks to a class vote, of course, in which students determined that the bear be named for the class's most popular child. Ms Gibbons could not have anticipated the stir this would cause, since, after all, Mohammed (and its variants) is now the most popular name in the UK, surpassing "John" at last. Since so many people are named Mohammed without being convicted of blasphemy, Ms Gibbons' assumption is sound.
And for a rather long time, no one was especially insulted or bothered. In fact, one of Ms Gibbons' coworkers was quoted in the news as speculating that another, ill-meaning teacher had phoned the police only to incite and rabblerouse, and this was all well after the bear was named.
It's also well worth reinforcing the fact that Ms Gibbons has had an incredible amount of support from parents and fellow teachers, all of whom have eagerly rallied to her defense. And in the Sudanese blogs, people have been so supportive of her, as well. In fact, outrage over her conviction is pretty universal. I bring this up because it underscores how completely abnormal this verdict is. It's visibly xenophobic, but the decision by no means reflects the popular opinion of the Sudanese. I'm frankly rather surprised at the comments that suggest she made a mistake in going to the Sudan.
"but the decision by no means reflects the popular opinion of the Sudanese."
Its usually not in those countries. it still doesn't mean you don't want to fall on the wrong side of the law. Iran is pretty progressive when it comes to what its citizens believe. especially the youth.
don't get caught being gay there though.
Common chatter in diplomatic circles was that this was planned by the Sudanese as a means of stirring opinion against the UK, who wants UN troops to monitor the genocide that semi official militias are conducting up north.
IMO, the appropriate response to this from the UK is to expel large numbers of Sudanese diplomats, advise all British Citizens to leave Sudan, and generally encourage other nations to think of them as backwards howling idiots one step away form the Taliban. In other words, shame the shit out of them, and cause them to loose face in a massive, humiliating manner.
They had a chance to let her go, even without an apology, and just deport her. They blew it. They deserve consequences that will show them that this sort of behavior is a really bad idea, public image wise.
She DOES look a bit like Margaret Thatcher...
Are there any reports on what will happen with M.., well, the bear in question?
Once _it's_ been named Mohammed, can it still just be destroyed or thrown away?
Surely enough the Koran wouldn't have a straight answer to that.
@Andrew Denny:
I don't see anything odd in that; the anonymous commentator was saying that you were brave, not that he (or she) was.
@Flipa:
On a similar line, I was wondering whether the offence was more because of allowing the children to vote, than the actual naming of the bear.
...You know, this is so totally full of shit that, to mark my 46th Birthday today, I'm going to go outside and do the following:
1) Find the worst-looking, most pathetically shit dog turd I can find on the ground.
2) Put a miniature Koran beside it, and whatever that towel they all put on their heads, duplicate it in miniature and place it on one end. Whether you perceive it as the head or the ass is your own affair.
3) Encase it in lucite for the ages.
4) Enscribe the name "MOHAMMED" in the Lucite.
...Failing that, I'll just win the lottery and have one million teddy bears air dropped over Sudan, all bearing - no pun intended - name tags with "My Name Is Mohammed!" around their necks. So, when the Sudanese start having teddy bear bonfires, they'll look more like the illiterate, unwashed, retarded idiots they've demonstrated themselves to be in this one case.
I've always felt that people in this country have a gross misunderstanding of the term "freedom of speech". It simply means we can say what we want. It doesn't imply that we have freedom from the consequences of our words and actions. It is the understanding and acceptance of this "freedom of speech" ideal that minimizes the consequences. However, this freedom is not guaranteed.
Boo to the Sudanese for imprisoning a woman with completely innocent intentions.
1) The problem with this is that you are not to attribute the character of the Prophet to an idol basically. I know it's just a dang teddy bear, but the teacher should have known better. It's freakin' Sudan. Geez.
2) #40 "OM"...I love how anti-Islamic people get when they hear of a place that has such rules. Everyone wants to put the Koran in this and blow up this turban and send to hell that muslim.
It's sad actually. We hate on them because of their strict guidelines to life, and they hate on us because of our loose lifestyles. Sad thing is, they have yet to put the Bible or cross in the toilet or in shit or anything like that, but we are on that "backwards howling idiots one step away form the Taliban" mentality.
You do not name toys, idols, statues, etc the name of the prophet. Period. Simple.
ESPECIALLY if your ass is a non-muslim in a muslim country.
It's not that hard to blame the victim here. If you know a country has goofy laws don't go there. If you do go there for god sake don't break their goofy laws. Who told this lady that these people aren't serious about their sky wizard?
"You do not name toys, idols, statues, etc the name of the prophet. Period. Simple."
...Then all the more incentive for me to go out and find that dog turd. Which brings me to another idea that *ALL* of you can use to make your own statement about this latest debacle by the retards claiming they're following Allah's "wishes":
1) Go buy an industrial-sized Sharpie.
2) Every time you go to a public stall, write "MY NAME IS MOHAMMED" somewhere visible on the stall, commode, bidet, etc.
3) For extra credit, you can also write "Bin Laden Slept Here".
Thanks for that. Goes to show exactly what I'm talking about.
Because of the way people like you, "OM", choose to deal with Islam, you will never get rid of the animosity that you will face when it come to these people.
Step back and look at what you are saying: They don't know how to tolerate others so lets make fun of their beliefs.
And just to make sure you understand, muslims can give 2 shits about Osama.
But The Prophet is the Prophet, and God is God.
If people do not believe in a Prophet or a God then that's just their way. But if people DO, then who are you to say they are wrong in defending their beliefs...ESPECIALLY IN THEIR OWN DAMN COUNTRY!!!!?
ALSO, I have NEVER seen muslims talk shit about Jesus. OR MOSES!!! Instead they are respected and given honor. But if you will feel better by writing "MY NAME IS MOHAMMED" somewhere visible on the stall, commode, bidet, etc. then you are much worse then they could ever be.
In further news, there were mass public protests today by "thousands" of Sudanese citizens demanding the teacher's execution: Times, Guardian, USA Today.
Wait, you mean to tell me that religious extremists are fucked?
Whaaaaaaaat???
Everyone who is outraged by this crap please realize that the same sorts of ridiculous reactions occur in the western world, and immediately join Amnesty International & the ACLU. Vote, and speak out about persecution! Please don't just bitch on blogs.
that's why i far prefer the company of zen buddhists. rather than being insulted, the zen master just points to a turd on the ground and says "that turd is the Buddha"... before pushing me in the mud and running away giggling, leaving me thoroughly confused but feeling more enlightened somehow.
Nope, he/she is not and you're just making stuff up as you please...
I really hope we'll get rid of this religious nonsense very soon...
Sudan is a severely confused nation.
If anything this was a compliment to the name "Muhammed" and the people of sudan.
The teddy bear can never covet, think impure thoughts, commit crime or be dishonest. There is not one grain of stuffing inside him that will ever judge another.
Therefore how can this be considered an insult when the bear will ultimately be more "sin free" than muhammed himself?
Personally I think teddy bear manufacturing companies world wide propose a pre-named bear named "Muhammed" for the christmas season.
One more comment after reading the ever so intellegent words of ROSSIFUMI.
You say we hate islam because of there strict lifestyle, and they hate us because of our loose lifestyle. I'm confused.
1) Who practices polygamy?
2) How about the islamic law: After having sexual relations with a lamb, it is a mortal sin to eat its flesh....ok.
So let me get this straight. We are loose, but islams can have many wifes, and have sex with animals. Yes, that clears up alot, but don't you dare name that teddy bear.