Most British Islamic organisations - even the more extreme ones such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission - are united in condemning the decision in Sudan to prosecute for “insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs” a British teacher for allowing her class of 7-year olds to name a teddy bear “Muhammed”.

The Muslim Council of Britain called for her release:

MCB calls for Release for Teacher in Sudan

The Muslim Council of Britain calls upon the Sudanese government to intervene in the case of the arrested schoolteacher, Ms Gillian Gibbons, with a view to ensuring that she is released without delay.

“This is a very unfortunate incident and Ms Gibbons should never have been arrested in the first place. It is obvious that no malice was intended,” said Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

Now they have made even stronger statements:

MCB Appalled At Sudanese Decision to Charge Gillian Gibbons

The Muslim Council of Britain is appalled at the decision of the Sudanese authorities to charge the British schoolteacher, Gillian Gibbons, for allegedly ‘insulting religion’.

“This is a disgraceful decision and defies common sense. There was clearly no intention on the part of the teacher to deliberately insult the Islamic faith. The children in Ms Gibbons’ class and their parents have all testified as to her innocence in this matter. We call upon the Sudanese President, Umar al-Bashir, to intervene in this case without delay to ensure that Ms Gibbons is freed from this quite shameful ordeal,” said Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

The decision looks to me to be tied-up with an attempt by the government in Sudan to dilute the attempts by the international community to protect the people of Darfur.

I suspect that Allah is weeping this morning.

But the statements from the British Muslim organisations will head off those who will attempt to paint the Sudanese Government action as being characteristic of all Muslims, and the dialogue needs to continue.

Wrapping-Up

It is an honour to have a bear named after you anyway. Here is the Rowan Williams bear from when he became Archbishop of Canterbury:

And in my own surreal comment on the surreal actions of the surreal Sudanese government reaching a surreal decision, I will be running some of the more surreal “Jesus and Mo” cartoons on the Wardman Wire throughout next week.

Tags: islam, sudan, darfur, gillian gibbons, muhammed bear

[tags]islam, sudan, darfur, gillian gibbons, muhammed bear[/tags]