Cruella DeVilla
30-11-2007, 18:21
I know this is very sensitive and one must be careful about expresing an opinion but I was amazed to read this on the www earlier this afternoon.
The only losers here apart form Gillian are the kids:(
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[u]Sudan Crowd Call For Teddy Teacher Gillian Gibbons To Be Shot</u>
Thousands of people are marching in Khartoum calling for British teacher Gillian Gibbons to be executed.
The 54-year-old has been jailed for blasphemy in Sudan after naming a teddy bear Mohammed but the crowds say her 15-day sentence is too lenient.
The protesters took to the streets carrying knives and sticks, chanting "shame on the UK" and "kill her by firing squad".
Gillian Gibbons escaped conviction on a more serious charge of inciting hatred, for which she could have faced 40 lashes or six months in prison.
She was expected to serve her term at a women's prison near the capital, Khartoum, before being deported to the UK.
Britain has expressed "in the strongest terms" its concern at the verdict and Foreign Secretary David Miliband summoned the Sudanese ambassador. He also spoke to the Sudanese Acting Foreign Minister.
The Foreign Office said earlier they were seeking "swift resolution of this issue" and maintain Mrs Gibbons is guilty of nothing more than a simple misunderstanding.
During her sentencing, UK consular staff were denied access to the court and riot police surrounded the building while the media were barred from entering.
School director Robert Boulos called the verdict "very fair" adding: "She could have had six months and lashes and a fine and she only got 15 days and deportation."
The school would not appeal against the decision, he added.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he was "appalled" at the decision to convict her.
The only losers here apart form Gillian are the kids:(
************************************************** *************
[u]Sudan Crowd Call For Teddy Teacher Gillian Gibbons To Be Shot</u>
Thousands of people are marching in Khartoum calling for British teacher Gillian Gibbons to be executed.
The 54-year-old has been jailed for blasphemy in Sudan after naming a teddy bear Mohammed but the crowds say her 15-day sentence is too lenient.
The protesters took to the streets carrying knives and sticks, chanting "shame on the UK" and "kill her by firing squad".
Gillian Gibbons escaped conviction on a more serious charge of inciting hatred, for which she could have faced 40 lashes or six months in prison.
She was expected to serve her term at a women's prison near the capital, Khartoum, before being deported to the UK.
Britain has expressed "in the strongest terms" its concern at the verdict and Foreign Secretary David Miliband summoned the Sudanese ambassador. He also spoke to the Sudanese Acting Foreign Minister.
The Foreign Office said earlier they were seeking "swift resolution of this issue" and maintain Mrs Gibbons is guilty of nothing more than a simple misunderstanding.
During her sentencing, UK consular staff were denied access to the court and riot police surrounded the building while the media were barred from entering.
School director Robert Boulos called the verdict "very fair" adding: "She could have had six months and lashes and a fine and she only got 15 days and deportation."
The school would not appeal against the decision, he added.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he was "appalled" at the decision to convict her.