Briton Charged With Inciting Hatred in Teddy Bear Case
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
KHARTOUM — Sudan charged a British teacher today with inciting religious hatred after she allowed her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad, seen as referring to Islam’s prophet, the country’s official news agency reported.
In London, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has summoned the Sudanese ambassador to discuss the charge against teacher Gillian Gibbons, the British government said.
The case will be referred to a court tomorrow, the SUNA agency quoted Prosecutor General Salah Addin Abuzeit as saying.
Ms. Gibbons, 54, charged under article 125 of the Sudanese legal code, Mr. Abuzeit said. If convicted, she could face up to 40 lashes and six months prison.
She was arrested Sunday in Khartoum after she allowed her students — mostly around age 7 — to name the teddy bear Muhammad.
A spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office confirmed the charge. She spoke on condition of anonymity in compliance with government regulations.
