Lawyer Expects Pardon In Teddy Bear Case

British Muslim Delegation Arrives In Sudan Seeking Release Of Jailed U.K. Teacher

(AP)  A lawyer for a British teacher convicted in Sudan of insulting Islam after she let students name a teddy bear Muhammad said he expected his client to be pardoned, while a pair of British Muslim politicians visited Khartoum on Saturday to seek the teacher's release.

Labour peer Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi, a Conservative, arrived in Sudan on what the British Foreign Office called a private visit to meet with Sudanese officials about the case of Gillian Gibbons.

"I would not be surprised if president of the republic will tell delegation we have dropped this charge," defense attorney Kamal al-Gizouli told The Associated Press, explaining that only the president has the power to lift Gibbons' 15-day sentence.

Gibbons, whose prison sentence runs until Dec. 9, was moved from the Omdurman women's prison on Friday after thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and swords and beating drums, burned pictures of her and demanded her execution.

Sudan's Islamic government, which has long whipped up anti-Western, Muslim hard-line sentiment at home, was balancing between fueling outrage over the case of Gillian Gibbons and containing it.

The government does not want to seriously damage ties with Britain, but the show of anger on Friday underlines its stance that Sudanese oppose Western interference, lawyers and political foes said. The uproar comes as the U.N. is accusing Sudan of dragging its feet on the deployment of peacekeepers in the war-torn Darfur region.

The 54-year-old Gibbons, who was sentenced to 15 days in jail, spoke Friday with her son John and daughter Jessica in Britain by telephone.

"One of the things my mum said today was that I don't want any resentment towards Muslims," the son told The Associated Press. "She's holding up quite well."

Despite the fervor of the protest, the rest of Khartoum was quiet. The rally was far smaller than February 2006 protests held with government backing after European newspapers ran caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, suggesting popular anger over Gibbons did not run as deep.

In their mosque sermons Friday, several Muslim clerics harshly denounced Gibbons, saying she had intentionally insulted the prophet, but they did not call for protests and said the punishment ordered by the court was sufficient.

Still, after prayers, several thousand people converged on Khartoum's Martyrs Square, near the presidential palace, and began calling for Gibbons' execution. Many seemed to be from Sufi groups, religious sects that emphasize reverence for the prophet.

Several hundred protesters marched to Unity High School, where Gibbons worked, and chanted outside briefly before heading toward the nearby British Embassy. They were stopped by security forces two blocks from the embassy. The protest dispersed after an hour.

There was no overt sign that the government organized the protest, but such a public rally could not have taken place without at least official assent.

Gibbons was sentenced Thursday to 15 days in jail and deportation for insulting Islam with the naming of the teddy bear, which was part of a class project for her 7-year-old students at the private school.

She escaped harsher punishment that could have included up to 40 lashes, six months in prison and a fine. Her time in jail since her arrest Sunday counts toward the sentence.

The conviction shocked Britons, and the British government said it was working with Sudan's regime to win her release. Muslim groups in Britain and the United States denounced the ruling, saying Gibbons should not have been tried.

During her trial, a weeping Gibbons said she had intended no harm. Her students, overwhelmingly Muslim, chose the name for the bear, and Muhammad is one of the most common names for men in the Arab world. Muslim scholars generally agree that intent is a key factor in determining if someone has violated Islamic rules against insulting the prophet.

But the case was caught up in the ideology that President Omar al-Bashir's Islamic regime has long instilled in Sudan, a mix of anti-colonialism, religious fundamentalism and a sense that the West is besieging Islam.

"The escalation is deliberate," said Mariam al-Mahdi, a leader of the main opposition Umma party. "There has been a strong official mobilization in the media and mosques against the so-called imperialists and the crusaders."

Al-Bashir came to power in a 1989 military coup, supported by fundamentalists rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood. His ruling party, dominated by Islamic hard-liners, controls the levers of power in the north, where Islamic Sharia law is in place.

[arrifkin]

I believe that Wal-Mart should have about a million Mohammed teddy bears made in China, and sell them everywhere. That should create an interesting Christmess. (misspelling intended).

And they should be airlifted to Darfur, where the Janjaweed Arab militias are murdering and raping hundreds of thousands of black Africans. They can''t blame the locals, so they can come after us.

And I agree that British commandos should land there, kick some ***, rescue her, and embarass the government. Of course, the US can''t do that...we''d just crash in the desert, and be humiliated (remember Carter''s rescue of the Iranian embassy hostages...?)

And a complete termination of all aid to these murderous government creeps, as well as a boycott of their oil...China will get it all, but they''re going to collapse under the pollution, poverty, and civil unrest that is sure to arise as the few rich get richer, and the poor can''t survive.

[michellem99-2009]

Gramma,Dear mormons think they are the only true church and said so to my face. None of they are the true churuch as man set them up and each teach differently. It is sad how the Allmighty God is used by humans bent on killing. The Holy Father the pope don''t have all the answers. No body does. Yer live the best yer know how. I mean no dis-resept here. I can''t worship a **** off god that is bend on killing,hate, a terror of hell. Hell is real and hell is here on earth as well. There are so many different religions and man made. I am a left handed person. I am sorry I can''t use my right right hand and don''t go there with me. I just wish the muslins would not be mad at every one but them. I knew a blind muslin who had a seeing eye dog years ago. He was very nice. He was not American and I met him at blind camp. The left hand is not dirty. Please let Miss Gibbons leave. They are happy to take British pounds and had her teach their children. There are good in all.

[grammawhamma]

You know what..if there is a religion that thinks they should be the ONLY one..guess what..THAT religion should die!

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Posted by blewvelvet at 02:27 PM : Dec 01, 2007

Geez...maybe someone should tell the pope that there is "another" religion that thinks they are the "only true" religion!!

[michellem99-2009]

I did not vote for Bush. Next I did not ask for that illegal war. Miss Gibbons did nothing wrong. The pupils named that teddy bear at the centre of this issue. The pupils. Miss Gibbons is a woman. They treated her this way. I hope the Baroness can FREE her.This is bloody awful.

The terrible irony here is that Muslims don''t realize that their own beliefs insult the God of the Jews and Christians. The Word of God in the Holy Bible clearly says that Jesus is God come to earth in the form of man, but yet Muslims claim Jesus is nothing more than a prophet. "They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand." Isaiah 44:18

[wmsshields]

In Australia, they are saying that Fundamental Muslims can feel free to leave if they think that they can come in and alter the Australian society to meet their own rules and beliefs. They are not wanted if they want to change the Austrailian culture and mores. If just one American candidate for office would take the same stance, in favor of our existing culture and laws, and forget political correctness and liberal bleeding heart bull;;;;, we may be able to put a stop to illegal immigration and terrorism. I know this is against the grain thinking, but somebody has to wake up and say "Stop the madness" of minority rule.

[wmsshields]

These are some mix of people, cloaked in a guise of religion. They want to execute a woman for agreeing to her students'' name choice for a teddy bear. They also want to kill Americans for no reason at all. They want rights in liberal democracies around the world based on their own definition of rights. And they protest, bomb and riot when denied. We would do well to wipe them off the face of the world.

[cdfoxtrot]

Prior to the last election, Americans could reasonably say they had no idea the moron-in-chief would do the things he did, when they voted him in the first time. Knowing all the things about this current Administration, however, whether it be illegally invading Iraq on concocted "evidence", whether it be internment of large numbers of people without charge or trial at Gitmo, torturing people in contravention of US law and the Geneva Convention, or whether it be p1issing hundreds of billions of future taxpayer money away on unnecessary military outlays, they voted for him a second time, anyway. Americans loose any claim of innocence by voting this clown in for a second term. And, dare I say it, if it weren''t for the two-term limit, I have little doubt Americans would vote him in again, if they could. Anyone who says we''re not collectively responsible should think about the way we view the Palestinians, the Iranians, etc. We hold THEM collectively responsible for whatever misdeeds are committed by their leaders. Why don''t the same rules apply to us?

[radiob-2009]

You can''''t claim moral superiority if you do the kinds of things the US has been doing under the moron-in-chief. Illegal invasions, torturing people and detaining people indefinitely without charge or trial. I am ashamed to be an American.








Posted by cdfoxtrot


I am not ashamed to be a American, I am ashamed of this adminstration and of the previous and present congress for failing to stop the war in Iraq before it began and the current congress impotence in allowing it to continue. Where was your voice prior to the invasion of Iraq? Mine was open and loudly heard against invading and in favour of some form of action against the Sudanese government for their genocidal murders of over 200,000 plus displacing 2 million. I have argued against the war in Iraq prior to it''s beginning and ever since. Now what you are allowing is the deeds of a 436 representives past and present to be the voice of America when they are not. 436 out of 3 billion voices and 17 lapdogs running for president do not represent America. Are all of the remainding citizens of the US supposed to not have a conscience or a sense of moral duty because of 436 representives, you would not be as disgusted over Iraq as you are if the answer was yes. Should we on account of Iraq place blinders over our eyes and ignore this or the 200,000 that have been murdered? Your logic is not adding up.

[toolmangler-2009]

I am ashamed to be an American.
Posted by cdfoxtrot at 03:49 PM : Dec 01, 2007



"I" am not ashamed to be an American, I am angry and resentful against our Policy makers for their stupidity and inaction. They have it within their grasp to do what they wish about ending the war and getting out of there. Every one of them points a finger at Bushy_baby and cries "shame, shame" but do nothing. WHY!!!!? "Anybody that is [ashamed] to be an American", should move out and make room for someone that loves this country. Every finger pointer should know that they have One finger pointed out and three pointed back at them.

[cdfoxtrot]

Suprised that they did not try and execute the children and the parents with their record on human rights. As far as Iraq goes it has been a disaster prior to the invasion for us citizens of the US who allowed it to happen in 9-11 post hysteria.

Posted by radiob

You can''t claim moral superiority if you do the kinds of things the US has been doing under the moron-in-chief. Illegal invasions, torturing people and detaining people indefinitely without charge or trial. And repeating "9/11", "9/11", "9/11" in true parrot form doesn''t explain or excuse this kind of disgusting and shameful behavior. I am ashamed to be an American.

[rowdytexan2]

I expect most of those people don''t even known what the difference in the religions is. Muslims are not strong on education other than religion. They don''t even want their people to know about anything but their religion. Plus, the thought that they might have an original idea is totally against their grain.

Ignorance is sometime bliss, but more often, it''s a nightmare of dictatorship and control.

[radiob-2009]

The kids involved are seven -- let me repeat, seven - years old. You''''d like to try them too??



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Posted by cdfoxtrot


Sarcasm for the ignorance of the Sudanese government no one should be on trial. The comments about the 200,000 and 2 million are to demonstrate their sense of justice. Suprised that they did not try and execute the children and the parents with their record on human rights. As far as Iraq goes it has been a disaster prior to the invasion for us citizens of the US who allowed it to happen in 9-11 post hysteria.

[cdfoxtrot]

Posted by cdfoxtrot

Were the 200,000 murdered in Sudan, the 2 million displaced given fair process? Why did the Sudanese government not try the children as well as their parents for this instead of the teacher. Are not the students and their parents more repsonsible for this than the teacher?

Posted by radiob

What does this have to do with the story? Were the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed as a result of the illegal US invasion given due process???? Were the 2m+ Iraqi refugees displaced over the illegal war given due process??? What''s your point???

The kids involved are seven -- let me repeat, seven - years old. You''d like to try them too??

[radiob-2009]

At least she was given due process, told what the charges were, and tried in a court of law. And then given a sentence with a definite end. Unlike all the hundreds of people, including children, detained illegally and without due process, by the US at Guantanamo. Clean up your own house before demonizing others for how they do things.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by cdfoxtrot

Were the 200,000 murdered in Sudan, the 2 million displaced given fair process? Why did the Sudanese government not try the children as well as their parents for this instead of the teacher. Are not the students and their parents more repsonsible for this than the teacher?

[Kimbakat]

She DIDN''T even name the Teddy Bear..the STUDENTS DID!!!
******** Muslims

[Kimbakat]

You know what..if there is a religion that thinks they should be the ONLY one..guess what..THAT religion should die! These people are uneducated about anything else in the world..Do they not realize that there are christians, buddhists, hindus, agnostics and atheists on the planet??? what planet do these selfish mongering people think they live on???

So anyone who doesn''t belong to THAT religion that believes it is THE one..should NOT work in that country or supply ANY resources to it. F&CK EM

[cbs_oliver]

Gosh. Some of the folks protesting had sticks and knives. I needed to know that.

Of course, here in America, some of the folks who protest one thing or another - if they are from the right wing anyway - will have baseball bats and guns.

It is disturbing to observe the hate mongering that goes on all the time here.

With all the stories of all the tragedys and injustices in the world this one gets headline play in America and the UK - perhaps everywhere in the Judeo Christian world.

I guess the intent of featuring this story is that it should further our descent into a sufficient fury of anger at Muslims so that we will approve future mass killings of them which our governments will carry out with cold and ruthless efficiency in our name.

[cdfoxtrot]

All this outrage about this teacher is amazing. At least she was given due process, told what the charges were, and tried in a court of law. And then given a sentence with a definite end. Unlike all the hundreds of people, including children, detained illegally and without due process, by the US at Guantanamo. Clean up your own house before demonizing others for how they do things.

[cdfoxtrot]

All this outrage about this teacher is amazing. At least she was given due process, told what the charges were, and tried in a court of law. And then given a sentence with a definite end. Unlike all the hundreds of people, including children, detained illegally and without due process, by the US at Guantanamo. Clean up your own house before demonizing others for how they do things.