Menu
29/11/2007
Jail Term For Sudan Teddy Bear Teacher
A British teacher has been jailed in the Sudan for insulting religion after naming her classes' teddy bear Muhammad.
Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has now been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported. She escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.
The Foreign Office today put pressure on the Sudan government to demand her release.
Meanwhile, the identity of Mrs Gibbon's accuser was revealed yesterday as being another member of staff.
During the case, the trial judge ordered the prosecution to produce the person who originally complained against the primary school teacher.
She was revealed to be Sara Khawad, an office assistant at the Unity High School which was a surprise to the defendant.
During the case, Mrs Gibbons, 54, looked tired and distressed having entered the court amid chaotic scenes - while outside an offender was being whipped as part of his punishment - and while riot police surrounded the area.
Media and school colleagues were also banned from the court and police even tried to stop her lawyer from entering.
Mrs Gibbons’ chief defence lawyer Kamal Djizouri was also forced to scuffle with a police cordon before he was allowed in.
Meanwhile, a statement from Mrs Gibbons, a mother-of-two from Liverpool, was read to the court in which she explained the incident and underlined that her seven-year-old students picked the name.
Episcopalian Bishop Ezekiel Kondo, Mrs Gibbons’ employer, also outside the courtroom, said he was there “as a witness to testify that she never intended to insult any religion” and dismissed rumours the school had fired her.
Yesterday, the country’s top Muslim clerics pressed their government to ensure that she is punished, comparing her action to author Salman Rushdie’s “blasphemies” against the Prophet Mohammed.
(BMcC)
Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has now been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported. She escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.
The Foreign Office today put pressure on the Sudan government to demand her release.
Meanwhile, the identity of Mrs Gibbon's accuser was revealed yesterday as being another member of staff.
During the case, the trial judge ordered the prosecution to produce the person who originally complained against the primary school teacher.
She was revealed to be Sara Khawad, an office assistant at the Unity High School which was a surprise to the defendant.
During the case, Mrs Gibbons, 54, looked tired and distressed having entered the court amid chaotic scenes - while outside an offender was being whipped as part of his punishment - and while riot police surrounded the area.
Media and school colleagues were also banned from the court and police even tried to stop her lawyer from entering.
Mrs Gibbons’ chief defence lawyer Kamal Djizouri was also forced to scuffle with a police cordon before he was allowed in.
Meanwhile, a statement from Mrs Gibbons, a mother-of-two from Liverpool, was read to the court in which she explained the incident and underlined that her seven-year-old students picked the name.
Episcopalian Bishop Ezekiel Kondo, Mrs Gibbons’ employer, also outside the courtroom, said he was there “as a witness to testify that she never intended to insult any religion” and dismissed rumours the school had fired her.
Yesterday, the country’s top Muslim clerics pressed their government to ensure that she is punished, comparing her action to author Salman Rushdie’s “blasphemies” against the Prophet Mohammed.
(BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 November 2005
Public schools found guilty of fee fixing
Fifty of England’s top public schools have broken competition law by exchanging information about fees, the Office of Fair Trading has announced. Following an investigation lasting more than two years, the OFT found that pupils’ parents ended up paying higher fees as a result of the information-sharing.
Public schools found guilty of fee fixing
Fifty of England’s top public schools have broken competition law by exchanging information about fees, the Office of Fair Trading has announced. Following an investigation lasting more than two years, the OFT found that pupils’ parents ended up paying higher fees as a result of the information-sharing.
30 November 2007
Sudan Protestors Call For Teacher's Death
Sudanese protestors took to the streets in their thousands on Friday to protest about the trial of British school teacher Gillian Gibbons, jailed over naming a teddy bear in her class 'Mohammed'.
Sudan Protestors Call For Teacher's Death
Sudanese protestors took to the streets in their thousands on Friday to protest about the trial of British school teacher Gillian Gibbons, jailed over naming a teddy bear in her class 'Mohammed'.
04 December 2007
Sudan Teacher Returns To The UK
A British teacher who was jailed in Sudan after allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad has returned to the UK. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool spent more than a week in jail for insulting Islam before being released. She received a pardon from the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir on Monday.
Sudan Teacher Returns To The UK
A British teacher who was jailed in Sudan after allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad has returned to the UK. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool spent more than a week in jail for insulting Islam before being released. She received a pardon from the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir on Monday.
03 December 2007
Sudanese Pardon Teacher
Jailed teacher Gillian Gibbons is to be released from prison in Sudan today after she was locked up for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days by a court in Sudan. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting with two British Muslim peers.
Sudanese Pardon Teacher
Jailed teacher Gillian Gibbons is to be released from prison in Sudan today after she was locked up for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days by a court in Sudan. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting with two British Muslim peers.
21 March 2005
Government to 'raise standard and quality' of school dinners
The government has announced plans to raise the standard and quality of school dinners. Speaking at the launch of Labour's campaign policy document on children, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said that Labour was "committed to raising the nutritional standard of school meals".
Government to 'raise standard and quality' of school dinners
The government has announced plans to raise the standard and quality of school dinners. Speaking at the launch of Labour's campaign policy document on children, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said that Labour was "committed to raising the nutritional standard of school meals".
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Mostly dry south and east, patchy light rain west and north through much of the day. A band of heavier rain crosses central and northern parts in the morning Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Dry in the southeast at first otherwise widespread light rain or drizzle for most, turning to clear spells and a few showers towards morning. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
