Teacher arrested over children's naming of classroom toy

[Kitsune]

Just a clarification to those not familiar with Islamic law: Its OK to name your child after the prophet, but stuffed animals are completely out of the question.

Gillian Gibbons, 54, was arrested Sunday after she asked her class of seven-year-olds to come up with a name for the toy as part of a school project, her head teacher told CNN.

Robert Boulos, the head of Unity High School in the capital Khartoum, said naming the teddy bear was "a totally innocent mistake" and that Gibbons had never intended to cause offense.

He said Gibbons had asked the children to pick their favorite name for the new class mascot, which she was using to aid lessons about animals and their habitats.

...

So far Gibbons has yet to be charged with any offense, however, under Sudanese law, insulting Islam is punishable with 40 lashes, a jail term of up to six months or a fine, she said.

The kids voted for the name, why aren't they being arrested?

[LJ]

was the offense naming the animal, or what they named it? did i miss something? what did they name it?

[lookout123]

because over there they worship their children. they can do no wrong. they even value them more highly than they do sheep. women? not so much.

you think i'm being a sarcastic dick? i've been there and seen it first hand.

[lookout123]

Originally Posted by LJ

what did they name it?

lumporjism

[ZenGum]

Imperfect editing from Kitsune there

The bear was named Muhammed.
Any depiction of the prophet is forbidden. I guess it was interpreted as a depiction of the prophet rather than naming it after, say, one of the gazillions of the other Muhammeds.
See here.

[Sundae]

I'm surprised they were allowed a stuffed bear if laws are so strict.

I often advised customers buying baby gifts for Muslim colleagues to avoid anything with depictions of animals on (ie blankets with little rabbits stitched on, or ducks). It wasn't so much the couple who might protest but the Great Aunties and Grandmothers. In Islam you are not allowed to depict any living creature so as not to raise the issue of idolatry - Saudi Arabian street art is all quite abstract for example. This an extend to some toys, if they represent real animals.

OMG... you hate religion... how could you post such drivel!!!!

LOL!

I agree, arrest the kids, it was their choice.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

The latest word is she's sentenced to two weeks' imprisonment, exiled back to England, and no forty lashes.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

The latest word is she's sentenced to two weeks' imprisonment, exiled back to England, and no forty lashes.

Where are all the protes-- oh, it's already started.



I tend to think the anger in all of this isn't really about the stupid toy bear's name, but more that there is a UK teacher in Sudan. This was just the chance the children's parents needed to have her removed.

[ZenGum]

There's more than that.

It was a WOMAN! And she was TEACHING! WORKING! and as far as I can judge, she was INDEPENDENT!
Outrageous, really.

No wonder some mobs are calling for her execution.

She's clearly a witch too. They should burn her.

[lookout123]

it's freaking ridiculous. i mean it seriously burns me up and makes me angry. it is one of the very few subjects that really makes me see red and want to see physical punishment and harm to come to someone. i mean, who the hell do they think they are? things were good and fine right up until the point that we started to give women rights. RIGHTS??? what the hell? they are rights for men - they have forgotten they are privileges for women. they belong at home. either in the kitchen making us dinner. or the bedroom making us babies. or taking care of the house and kids while we are in our rightful workplace...

ok, i can't do it anymore, but i thought that it just wouldn't be the cellar if someone didn't argue the contrarian point there. sorry i couldn't do better.

[Shawnee123]

You better hide, lookout, you just pissed off all these women:

[ZenGum]

Yeah, lookout, you've triggered a riot by rampaging feminists! They're coming for you now!


EDIT: The one on the left is named Muhammedina.

[regular.joe]

I have an acquaintance who says "Saudi Arabia: Where 1+1=Banana"

Yea, it's true. Any place that uses Sharia Law is going to look pretty weird to us.

...and what else floats? WITCHES!!!! Burn her!!!

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by lookout123

they belong at home. either in the kitchen making us dinner. or the bedroom making us babies. or taking care of the house and kids while we are in our rightful workplace

I get really confused every time I see an interview of a woman living in one of those cultures and she answers that not only do women living there love it, but they prefer it, and that they can't understand how women in other parts of the world can stand to not be under such constraints. They talk about how it makes them feel safe, protected, closer to their families and god...

Our western culture is so far removed from this I don't think there is any way we could begin to understand.