Knowledge is power

Finally, Sudan’s President has done the right thing and he has pardoned British teacher Gibbons for her “crime” of allowing her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad; apparently, this very common name among Muslim men cannot be applied to animals for that is an insult to their prophet by the same name. The teacher was first sentenced to 15 days in prison and deportation from Sudan. Thousands of Muslims had demonstrated upon hearing the verdict asking for her death! Gibbons spent 4 days in prison before she was pardoned. She will still be deported and returned to the UK but at least she is still alive safe from religious fundamentalism and absurdity.

In case you are wondering, the maximum sentence possible for her “crime” is 40 lashes (yep!) and 6 months in prison for inciting religious hatred. Are these people for real? How is allowing a group of innocent children to name their toy teddy bear Muhammad an insult to Islam? It is ridiculous and I am glad that rational people have intervened to save this woman’s life.

CBC has the story here.