Education in the News!
Recently a teacher, Gillian Gibbons, was arrested in Sudan for "insulting religion" when she allowed her class to name a teddy bear Mohammed. She was found guilty, and sentenced to serve in prison. But just recently, hundreds of Islamic protestors outside Khartoum's presidential palace chanting " By soul, by blood, we will fight for the prophet Mohammed." Many of the protesters actually wanted her executed for this minor crime. They were reported to have chanted " No tolerance: Execution" and "Kill her by firing squad". But outside Sudan, many thought giving the teacher jail time was too much punidhment. Muslim groups throwing leaflets said she was an "infidel" and was accused of "polluting the children's mentaltity". After she serves her sentence in a woman's prison, she will be deported back to England. But many peopke say that the punishment could have been worse; she could hve recieved a year in jail or even 40 lashes! Many teachers at her old school in England were surprised when ther heard the news. But what would you do? Would you have this poor woman arrested or even executed for "insulting religion"? Or would you even find her guilty? These are questions for you to consider. For mor information and the full story visit Sudan Protestors: Execute Teacher.
5 comments:
I like this post a lot because of how ridiculous some people are getting and how seriously they are taking this MINOR incedent that I understand can and did hurt some people's beliefs but if they strongly believe in it then the insult shouldn't bother them.
I like this post, too, but the only Question, which I have is, why do you have all these Questions there on the bottom?
I am outraged that this world has come to somting so stupid as this. I beleive that the teacher should be let go and that she was just being a good teacher.This is a cruel and unjust punishment. I understand that it is about religion but its not like she did it against the government on purpose. Finally I beleive that she should be released with no charges.
Firstly, while I don't believe that they ('they' being the Sudanese government) should have punished her so severely, I do believe that since the name Mohammed is a sacred name in the Muslim religion, the teacher should have been more aware of the risks of offending the beliefs of others, especially considering her location. Given, if it was Britain or any other place, it would be absolutely ridiculous, I can actually see where the people of Sudan are coming from. I do, however, think that they overreacted just a bit. Execution for naming a teddy bear? Right.
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