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By Jennie Matthew AFP - Monday, November 26 06:27 pm
KHARTOUM (AFP) - A British teacher in Sudan on Monday faced lashes and deportation as she languished in police custody accused of insulting the Muslim prophet for allowing young children to name a teddy bear Mohammed.
Sudanese police arrested Gillian Gibbons in Khartoum on Sunday after parents complained that she allowed six-year-old boys and girls at an expensive English school to name the bear, and so "insult" the Prophet Mohammed.
The penalty carries the death sentence for Muslims in Sudan, where Islamic Sharia law is enforced in Khartoum and the north, but a non-Muslim could face a maximum penalty of lashes, prison, a fine and deportation if found guilty.
A shaken Gibbons, whom a British embassy spokesman said on Monday had not yet been charged and who never intended that naming the bear would cause offence, was poised to spend a second night in police custody.
"She was arrested yesterday by the local police and she's currently being held in a police station in Khartoum. We visited her today. She's shaken up but she's alright," said the embassy spokesman.
"We're following up with the Sudanese authorities and also with the school who are providing her with legal representation. She's not been charged officially but there are still investigations going on," the spokesman said.
Sudanese officials on Monday closed the fee-paying Christian-run Unity High School until further notice, one teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The British headmistress of the school, where the majority of pupils are Muslim from well-off Sudanese and expatriate families, was unreachable.
One teacher charged that the incident stemmed from a private dispute between another colleague and the school management.
The Sudanese Media Centre, a news agency close to the country's intelligence servives, quoted the school as apologising and allegedly claiming the teacher had been sacked.
"The school apologised officially to the students, families and all Muslims for an individual act that does not represent the policy of the school, or its deep respect for Muslims and their faith," SMC quoted the school as saying.
Members of the Khartoum state assembly swiftly demanded greater control of foreign schools, which are popular with Sudan's growing affluent class in the capital, as well as the children of embassy officials and aid workers.
For devout Muslims, any physical depiction of Mohammed is blasphemous and strictly forbidden.
If charged and brought before a court, Gibbons's fate would be decided by a judge who could sentence her to prison, a quota of lashes and a fine, independent legal experts said. She would also face certain deportation.
Gibbons was understood to have worked as a deputy headteacher at a primary school in Liverpool, northwest England, from 2002 until this July when she left for Sudan.
Her relatives declined to comment. "I have spoken with her children and they do not want to say anything and aggravate the situation over there. They have decided not to say anything," said a family spokesman.
However a former neighbour in Liverpool said she had dedicated her life to teaching children -- and lamented what has happened in Sudan.
"Gillian was a very nice person and wouldn't harm a fly. It is ridiculous what has happened," said Peter Sorensen, 64, who lived next door to Gibbons for more than 20 years.
"She will be going through hell in jail over there. I think what has happened must have come out of the blue -- it is dangerous territory, she probably hasn't realised that."
The British Foreign Office website says that while Sudan's constitution says non-Muslims shall be exempt from Sharia law, this has not yet resulted in practical changes and that people should expect Sharia law to apply.
KHARTOUM (AFP) - A British teacher in Sudan on Monday faced lashes and deportation as she languished in police custody accused of insulting the Muslim prophet for allowing young children to name a teddy bear Mohammed.
Sudanese police arrested Gillian Gibbons in Khartoum on Sunday after parents complained that she allowed six-year-old boys and girls at an expensive English school to name the bear, and so "insult" the Prophet Mohammed.
The penalty carries the death sentence for Muslims in Sudan, where Islamic Sharia law is enforced in Khartoum and the north, but a non-Muslim could face a maximum penalty of lashes, prison, a fine and deportation if found guilty.
A shaken Gibbons, whom a British embassy spokesman said on Monday had not yet been charged and who never intended that naming the bear would cause offence, was poised to spend a second night in police custody.
"She was arrested yesterday by the local police and she's currently being held in a police station in Khartoum. We visited her today. She's shaken up but she's alright," said the embassy spokesman.
"We're following up with the Sudanese authorities and also with the school who are providing her with legal representation. She's not been charged officially but there are still investigations going on," the spokesman said.
Sudanese officials on Monday closed the fee-paying Christian-run Unity High School until further notice, one teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The British headmistress of the school, where the majority of pupils are Muslim from well-off Sudanese and expatriate families, was unreachable.
One teacher charged that the incident stemmed from a private dispute between another colleague and the school management.
The Sudanese Media Centre, a news agency close to the country's intelligence servives, quoted the school as apologising and allegedly claiming the teacher had been sacked.
"The school apologised officially to the students, families and all Muslims for an individual act that does not represent the policy of the school, or its deep respect for Muslims and their faith," SMC quoted the school as saying.
Members of the Khartoum state assembly swiftly demanded greater control of foreign schools, which are popular with Sudan's growing affluent class in the capital, as well as the children of embassy officials and aid workers.
For devout Muslims, any physical depiction of Mohammed is blasphemous and strictly forbidden.
If charged and brought before a court, Gibbons's fate would be decided by a judge who could sentence her to prison, a quota of lashes and a fine, independent legal experts said. She would also face certain deportation.
Gibbons was understood to have worked as a deputy headteacher at a primary school in Liverpool, northwest England, from 2002 until this July when she left for Sudan.
Her relatives declined to comment. "I have spoken with her children and they do not want to say anything and aggravate the situation over there. They have decided not to say anything," said a family spokesman.
However a former neighbour in Liverpool said she had dedicated her life to teaching children -- and lamented what has happened in Sudan.
"Gillian was a very nice person and wouldn't harm a fly. It is ridiculous what has happened," said Peter Sorensen, 64, who lived next door to Gibbons for more than 20 years.
"She will be going through hell in jail over there. I think what has happened must have come out of the blue -- it is dangerous territory, she probably hasn't realised that."
The British Foreign Office website says that while Sudan's constitution says non-Muslims shall be exempt from Sharia law, this has not yet resulted in practical changes and that people should expect Sharia law to apply.
