KHARTOUM (Agencies)
A wave of anger erupted in Sudan on Friday a day after British 'teddy' teacher was sentenced to 15 days in jail by a criminal court, a sentence that protestors say is too lenient for someone who has insulted Islam.
Sudanese demonstrators flocked into the centre of Khartoum from several mosques following the Muslim Friday (Jumaa) prayers, Sheikh Hussein Mubarak told thousands of protestors that the court's "verdict was lenient out of fear of criticism from human rights organizations, America and the West".
Sheikh Mubarak's expressed his fears that Gibbon's may be part of the Christian missionaries in Sudan and said it was an attempt "to transform Sudan from an Islamic state into a Christian state," adding that the British teacher had come to Sudan "as part of that design".
"Why did this teacher come to Sudan? She surely didn't need to emigrate from her country for the money? So she came for another reason...," he told the faithful at the Al-Safa mosque in the city's eastern Jarif district.
"Those who insult the Prophet of Islam should be punished with bullets," demonstrators shouted against Gillian Gibbons, 54, whose charges stem from naming a teddy bear Mohammed.
Others chanted "governor: execute her!"
Earlier Sheikh Abdul Jalil Karuri at the central Martyr's Mosque that Gibbons "did it with the intention of insulting Islam."
Teachers at the school say that calling the teddy bear Mohammad was not Gibbons's idea, they say no parents objected when she sent them circulars about a reading project that included the bear, introduced to the class in September, as a fictional participant.
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Misunderstanding or missionary Sudanese politicians have previously warned against missionary activities, especially in Darfur, and some have even said that the humanitarian organizations in Sudan are there as Christian missionaries.
According to missionary sources they started their work in Sudan in 1842 and from 1916 onward, tens of thousands were converted to Christianity.
In 1964 all missionaries were expelled from the south as the civil war escalated. However, some remained and helped to provide liaison for other missions who were forced to leave entirely, while instructing believers in the scriptures.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the trial stemmed from an "innocent misunderstanding" as diplomatic contacts continued "in the search for a swift resolution of this issue," the Foreign Office in London said.
British embassy officials visited Gibbons in prison at an undisclosed location earlier Friday after she began serving her sentence. The 15-day sentence was to run from Sunday when she was arrested.
"The consul and the deputy ambassador visited her this morning and she was fine," an embassy spokesman said. "She's in good spirits and she's not being mistreated or anything like that." |
