__NOTOC__ A British teacher working in Sudan was arrested on Sunday after parents allegedly complained that she had insulted Islam by naming a teddy bear Muhammad . She faces a possible six months in prison, 40 lashes, or a fine. A blasphemous bear? Gillian Gibbons, 54, who had arrived at Khartoum's Unity High School in August, polled the six and seven year old children in her class on what they should call the bear. Out of 8 names, including Abdullah and Hassan, the children overwhelmingly voted for Muhammad, by 20 votes to 3. School reaction Director Robert Boulos has closed the school until January for fear of reprisals. "This is a very sensitive issue," he said. However, in an Arabic statement sent to More4 News last night, Unity High School announced that Mrs Gibbons' employment with the school was being terminated with immediate effect: "The administration of Unity High School would like to proffer an official apology to all students and their families and to all Muslims for what was an individual action, which does not represent the sentiments of the administration or the school." Legal escalation Sudan's Justice Minister, Mohammed Ali Mardhi, ordered General Prosecutor Salaheddin Abu Zaid to take personal charge of the case. If charged with insulting the Prophet Muhammad, regarded as blasphemy under Sudan's Sharia law, Ms Gibbons faces 40 lashes or six month's imprisonment - but the prosecutor has suggested that more serious charges could follow. He is continuing to question witnesses, and there are unconfirmed reports that blasphemy charges have already been brought, and that charges of sedition are being considered. International reaction The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, expressed sorrow about what has happened to Ms Gibbons, and stated that contacts had been made with the Sudanese government and police to "clarify" the situation. Louise Ellman , Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside , called for the release of Ms Gibbons, stating: "I hope that the Foreign Office will do everything they can to calm the situation. I will be giving every assistance I can." Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari , of the Muslim Council of Britain, said that Ms Gibbons should never have been arrested in the first place, and called on the Sudanese government to intervene in the case with a view to ensuring that she is released without delay. Speculation Some commentators have suggested other contributing factors in this furore: Britain's criticism of the Sudanese government's human rights record in Darfur may have angered the Sudanese authorities. Teachers at the school have suggested that a colleague with a grudge against the school, rather than parents, might be the source for the complaints. Bishop Ezekiel Kondo , chairman of the school council, suggested that the affair could be related to a tax dispute between the school and the Sudanese authorities. Canadian radio commentators have suggested that the Danish cartoon controversy in 2005 may have increased the Muslim sensitivity to this issue.
__NOTOC__ A British teacher working in Sudan was arrested on Sunday after parents allegedly complained that she had insulted Islam by naming a teddy bear . She faces a possible six months in prison, 40 lashes, or a fine. A blasphemous bear? Gillian Gibbons, 54, who had arrived at 's in August, polled the six and seven year old children in her class on what they should call the bear. Out of 8 names, including Abdullah and Hassan, the children overwhelmingly voted for Muhammad, by 20 votes to 3. School reaction Director Robert Boulos has closed the school until January for fear of reprisals. "This is a very sensitive issue," he said. However, in an statement sent to last night, Unity High School announced that Mrs Gibbons' employment with the school was being terminated with immediate effect: "The administration of Unity High School would like to proffer an official apology to all students and their families and to all Muslims for what was an individual action, which does not represent the sentiments of the administration or the school." Legal escalation Sudan's Justice Minister, Mohammed Ali Mardhi, ordered General Prosecutor Salaheddin Abu Zaid to take personal charge of the case. If charged with insulting the Prophet Muhammad, regarded as under Sudan's Sharia law, Ms Gibbons faces 40 lashes or six month's imprisonment - but the prosecutor has suggested that more serious charges could follow. He is continuing to question witnesses, and there are unconfirmed reports that blasphemy charges have already been brought, and that charges of sedition are being considered. International reaction The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, expressed sorrow about what has happened to Ms Gibbons, and stated that contacts had been made with the Sudanese government and police to "clarify" the situation. , Labour MP for , called for the release of Ms Gibbons, stating: "I hope that the Foreign Office will do everything they can to calm the situation. I will be giving every assistance I can." , of the Muslim Council of Britain, said that Ms Gibbons should never have been arrested in the first place, and called on the Sudanese government to intervene in the case with a view to ensuring that she is released without delay. Speculation Some commentators have suggested other contributing factors in this : Britain's criticism of the Sudanese government's human rights record in Darfur may have angered the Sudanese authorities. Teachers at the school have suggested that a colleague with a grudge against the school, rather than parents, might be the source for the complaints. Bishop , chairman of the school council, suggested that the affair could be related to a tax dispute between the school and the Sudanese authorities. Canadian radio commentators have suggested that the in 2005 may have increased the Muslim sensitivity to this issue.
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Muhammad
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Khartoum's Unity High School
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Arabic
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More4 News
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blasphemy
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Louise Ellman
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Liverpool Riverside
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Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari
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furore:
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Ezekiel Kondo
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Danish cartoon controversy