I’ve been following the story of the “teddy teacher” Gillian Gibbons who was imprisoned in Sudan for naming a teddy bear “Mohammed” and unwittingly insulting Islam. According to recent press reports it was actually the children in the class who were asked to name a teddy, who decided to call it “Mohammed”and not Gillian herself. To imprison a western schoolteacher for something as trivial as this when there are so many far more serious and heinous crimes going on in the world is I personally believe a gross injustice. I’m so glad the Sudanese government came to their senses and released this poor woman.
Gillian herself said in a Press Conference after her release how she had enjoyed her time in Sudan and was sorry to leave. She also said that she was upset to think she had caused any offence to the Sudanese people, saying that she never imagined that anything like this would happen as she was just an ordinary school teacher. As Gillian was smuggled safely out of Sudan, some gangs of religious fanatics were calling for her to be executed by firing squad. Gillian made an innocent mistake which she paid for with imprisonment. Now it's time to draw a line under the whole sorry business so this poor woman can move on with her life. Thank goodness the whole sorry state of affairs is now over and Gillian is now safely back with her family in Britain.
PHOTO:- Courtesy of Yahoo News
5 comments:
I'm glad she is safely out too Naomi. She never intended any harm.
Thank goodness she was released. What a travesty that she had to go through any of that to begin with!!
I am glad that she was released unharmed. But... I find it really hard to believe that she could be that ignorant of the culture of the people she was teaching. Aren't teachers supposed to be educated people. Even I know that naming a teddy bear Mohammad is an insult to the faith and religion of the Sudanese, how can someone live there, and be teaching these children from that culture and be that ignorant of their culture? I feel that she is playing the ignorance card, but I don't find that ignorance to be credible.
Wow, I had not heard about this one. Can you imagine...a firing squad! I'm glad she was able to get back home, and I wish her all the best!
I'm glad Gillian is safely out too Sheila and Miss T.
It's so difficult when you live in another country Marsha. You tread a fine line and it's a case of "when in Rome do as the Romans do". I agree to a certain extent Gillian was a little naieve letting the children name the teddy Mohammed. You have to be very careful in the Arab countries and show respect for the religion and culture of the people you are living amongst.
I'm glad she got back home safe too Marion.
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