teddy bear calle 'more ham 'head'

[trakker01]

By MOHAMED OSMAN, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago

 

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and knives, rallied Friday in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad."

 

 

In response to the demonstration, teacher Gillian Gibbons was moved from the women's prison near Khartoum to a secret location for her safety, her lawyer said.

 

The protesters streamed out of mosques after Friday sermons, as pickup trucks with loudspeakers blared messages against Gibbons, who was sentenced Thursday to 15 days in prison and deportation. She avoided the more serious punishment of 40 lashes.

 

They massed in central Martyrs Square outside the presidential palace, where hundreds of riot police were deployed. They did not try to stop the rally, which lasted about an hour.

 

"Shame, shame on the U.K.," protesters chanted.

 

They called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

 

Gibbons' chief lawyer, Kamal al-Gizouli, said she was moved from the prison for her safety for the final nine days of her sentence.

 

"They moved this lady from the prison department to put her in other hands and in other places to cover her and wait until she completes her imprisonment period," he said, adding that she was in good health.

 

"They want, by hook or by crook, to complete these nine days without any difficulties, which would have an impact on their foreign relationship," he said.

 

Several hundred protesters, not openly carrying weapons, marched from the square to Unity High School, about a mile away, where Gibbons worked. They chanted slogans outside the school, which is closed and under heavy security, then headed toward the nearby British Embassy. They were stopped by security forces two blocks away from the embassy.

 

The protest arose despite vows by Sudanese security officials the day before, during Gibbons' trial, that threatened demonstrations after Friday prayers would not take place. Some of the protesters carried green banners with the name of the Society for Support of the Prophet Muhammad, a previously unknown group.

 

Many protesters carried clubs, knives and axes — but not automatic weapons, which some have brandished at past government-condoned demonstrations. That suggested Friday's rally was not organized by the government.

 

A Muslim cleric at Khartoum's main Martyrs Mosque denounced Gibbons during one sermon, saying she intentionally insulted Islam. He did not call for protests, however.

 

"Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan. But we welcome imprisonment and expulsion," the cleric, Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri, a well-known hard-liner, told worshippers.

 

"This an arrogant woman who came to our country, cashing her salary in dollars, teaching our children hatred of our Prophet Muhammad," he said.

 

Britain, meanwhile, pursued diplomatic moves to free Gibbons. Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke with a member of her family to convey his regret, his spokeswoman said.

 

"He set out his concern and the fact that we were doing all we could to secure her release," spokeswoman Emily Hands told reporters.

 

Most Britons expressed shock at the verdict by a court in Khartoum, alongside hope it would not raise tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in Britain.

 

"One of the good things is the U.K. Muslims who've condemned the charge as completely out of proportion," said Paul Wishart, 37, a student in London.

 

"In the past, people have been a bit upset when different atrocities have happened and there hasn't been much voice in the U.K. Islamic population, whereas with this, they've quickly condemned it."

 

Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, accused the Sudanese authorities of "gross overreaction."

 

"This case should have required only simple common sense to resolve. It is unfortunate that the Sudanese authorities were found wanting in this most basic of qualities," he said.

 

The Muslim Public Affairs Committee, a political advocacy group, said the prosecution was "abominable and defies common sense."

 

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies, which represents 90,000 Muslim students in Britain and Ireland, called on Sudan's government to free Gibbons, saying she had not meant to cause offense.

 

"We are deeply concerned that the verdict to jail a schoolteacher due to what's likely to be an innocent mistake is gravely disproportionate," said the group's president, Ali Alhadithi.

 

The Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth organization, said Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir should pardon the teacher.

 

"The Ramadhan Foundation is disappointed and horrified by the conviction of Gillian Gibbons in Sudan," said spokesman Mohammed Shafiq.

 

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans, said Gibbons' prosecution and conviction was "an absurdly disproportionate response to what is at worst a cultural faux pas."

 

Foreign Secretary David Miliband summoned the Sudanese ambassador late Thursday to express Britain's disappointment with the verdict. The Foreign Office said Britain would continue diplomatic efforts to achieve "a swift resolution" to the crisis.

 

Gibbons was arrested Sunday after another staff member at the school complained that she had allowed her 7-year-old students to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Giving the name of the Muslim prophet to an animal or a toy could be considered insulting.

 

The case put Sudan's government in an embarrassing position — facing the anger of Britain on one side and potential trouble from powerful Islamic hard-liners on the other. Many saw the 15-day sentence as an attempt to appease both sides.

 

In The Times, columnist Bronwen Maddox said the verdict was "something of a fudge ... designed to give a nod to British reproof but also to appease the street."

 

Britain's response — applying diplomatic pressure while extolling ties with Sudan and affirming respect for Islam — had produced mixed results, British commentators concluded.

 

In an editorial, The Daily Telegraph said Miliband "has tiptoed around the case, avoiding a threat to cut aid and asserting that respect for Islam runs deep in Britain. Given that much of the government's financial support goes to the wretched refugees in Darfur and neighboring Chad, Mr. Miliband's caution is understandable."

 

Now, however, the newspaper said, Britain should recall its ambassador in Khartoum and impose sanctions on the Sudanese regime.

[ME]

now swapped for a diamond stud

 

are you coming out ? who is your "diamond stud" ? is it suffolk shooter ? (dont let MC find out)

[Mungler]

wokka wokka

[codling99]

 

 

and then they wonder why people just cant warm to religion or foreiners

[digger]

Paul Wishart, a bloody 37 year old student ?? What next ? a quote from a 98 year old paper boy ? Mr Timmins from Yorkshire is quoted as saying " by eck, the Mail on Sunday will be right evvy ".

Edited to add - diamond studs are the ear wear of Surrey, not that dirty county that proclaims Bluewater as its shining star. Drug dealers are from Essex

[Guest The Outlaw]

Mind you, if you had a Pakistani teacher in an English school dress a teddy from head to toe in a burka and call it Jesus I could see at least half a dozen members of this illustrious forum popping a blood vessel.

 

read this and you might start to understand why

 

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/c...icle2935442.ece

 

Great link Mark

 

Tony

[markbivvy]

They called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

 

 

we are always being preached to about exercising 'Tolerance' & 'Understanding' toward other faiths/religions . and yet we put up with this.

[new to the flock]

Gentlemen,

 

Thank you for keeping this civil, and on track.

 

Please continue to do so.

 

NTTF

[Guest The Outlaw]

In this country we should adopt the attitude of others.

 

"An eye for an eye"

 

You will see a change around then.

 

IMO all punishments should be the same world wide.

 

It would empty our prisons and stop a lot of crime here at least.

 

Worldwide parity of punishment and reform.

 

Tony

[ME]

Gentlemen,

 

Thank you for keeping this civil, and on track.

 

Please continue to do so.

 

NTTF

 

ay, ay captain

[markbivvy]

In this country we should adopt the attitude of others.

 

"An eye for an eye"

 

You will see a change around then.

 

IMO all punishments should be the same world wide.

 

It would empty our prisons and stop a lot of crime here at least.

 

Worldwide parity of punishment and reform.

 

Tony

 

 

good idea tony, but they would want the britsh way then mate.

[Guest The Outlaw]

I would say a happy medium so there is the worst type, the death penalty.

 

And the most lienient being our prison sentancing.

 

It would cause chaos for a few years while we did away with all the Rapist's, murderers and child molesters.

 

And cutting all the thieves hands off.

 

But a steady and obedient society, would come from it.

 

And minor things like this lady's case would be handled a little less manicly

 

I hope

 

Tony

[Floating Chamber]

Yup, the British way!

 

Short sentences; holidays abroad; an ASBO is as good as an OBE!

[starlight32]

bomb em i say

 

 

Yes an airstrike would be appropriate. Its about time the UK started the same tract as America. If you got the power use it. We should not be having scuffles with these people and their countries over these absolutely pathethic infringements of there so called religion.

[Guest The Outlaw]

We have to be aware of the prophecies of Nostradamous re the 3rd world war and the end of the world.

 

Depending on the version you read he has been quite right so far.

 

Tony

[markbivvy]

bomb em i say

 

 

Yes an airstrike would be appropriate. Its about time the UK started the same tract as America. If you got the power use it. We should not be having scuffles with these people and their countries over these absolutely pathethic infringements of there so called religion.

 

cant see the government doing anything even if they do top her.

 

they did nothing for these people

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/231570.stm

[starlight32]

Paul Wishart, a bloody 37 year old student ?? What next ? a quote from a 98 year old paper boy ? Mr Timmins from Yorkshire is quoted as saying " by eck, the Mail on Sunday will be right evvy ".

Edited to add - diamond studs are the ear wear of Surrey, not that dirty county that proclaims Bluewater as its shining star. Drug dealers are from Essex

 

 

Now then mafioso how are you going to deal with that one?

 

Bluewater is your shining star?

 

I like that, there was me thinking Pitsea is your hot spot

[col s10]

she was sentenced to 15 days in prison,but hundreds out side jail chanting for her to be shot

Just the same over here; hotheads on PW calling out to 'bomb 'em'

for gods sake man HUMOUR just because i dont put a smiley face by the post i give up

[starlight32]

she was sentenced to 15 days in prison,but hundreds out side jail chanting for her to be shot

Just the same over here; hotheads on PW calling out to 'bomb 'em'

for gods sake man HUMOUR just because i dont put a smiley face by the post i give up

 

I am serious anyway. Fed up with this namby pambi. lets face it what do these countries have to offer the UK? Nothing thats what so why are we giving them aid?

 

Can anyone on this forum answer me that?

 

At least when we fed our subjects in the colonial days it was for a better breed of punka waller- or am I mistaken??

[markbivvy]

We have to be aware of the prophecies of Nostradamous re the 3rd world war and the end of the world.

 

Depending on the version you read he has been quite right so far.

 

Tony

 

all the more chilling when you read this.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...ncameron129.xml

[col s10]

its friday and you have all been drinking

[Guest The Outlaw]

Because we have to be seen to be doing the right thing,

 

Soft yes men,

 

Or apeasers, (spell?)

 

Thats what we have become in the eyes of the rest of the world.

 

Not a force to be reconed with in sport or anything else,

 

Except defending oil rich countries that would bring use to our knees if they got into the wrong hands.

 

Our lads and lasses in the forces are being used and abused by poor stocking and equipment, and in the wrong way just like

 

our taxes.

 

Thats how it is and always will be.

 

To make us look nice and inviting.

 

IMHO

 

Tony

[A K A]

does all this fiasco and clap trap make you proud to be british..............dont think so.

[Guest The Outlaw]

Not at a bit, I love my country but hate what is happening to it,

 

Mark has put another great but chilling link on,

 

If I remember correctly a few other wars including at least one other world war were caused by this volatile area of the globe,

 

We have been warned !

 

Tony

[col s10]

Here endeth the lesson