Muhammad (Mohammed) the Teddy Bear and Blasphemy

The story has made international news headlines. Gillian Gibbons, a 54 year old teacher from Britain who went to Sudan to teach, has been arrested. Her crime? She allowed her 7 year old students in her class to name their stuffed teddy bear Muhammad (Mohammed).

What's more ludicrous is that she was sentenced to 15 days in prison and deportation. She faced up to six months in prison and 40 lashes. Even worse? People in Sudan are now in the streets calling for Gillian Gibbons to be executed .... over a stuffed teddy bear.

Ms. Gibbons has been moved from the women's prison she was being held at to a new secret location, in an attempt to protect her life. It's good that the government is at least trying to protect her, from them.

If the situation wasn't so horrible for Ms. Gibbons, it would be funny. The very idea of all of this is hard for most Americans to fathom. Being executed over a stuffed teddy bear name? Being flogged 40 times for allowing little children in a classroom to name a teddy bear Muhammad (Mohammed)? Facing six months in prison for it? Ending up still serving 15 days in prison? All over a stuffed teddy bear name?

I cannot imagine what must be going through the mind and heart of Gillian Gibbons. She leaves her country and goes to a country to teach, to help others, to make a difference. One can only imagine her thoughts when told she was under arrest for naming a teddy bear and insulting islam by doing do.

The name Mohammed (Muhammad) is a very common name for male Muslims. That leaves one to wonder why little kids, who chose that name, are witnessing such nonsense from the government of Sudan over the treatment of their teacher. One has to wonder if the Sudan government even realizes just how all of this looks not only to those little kids but to the rest of the world watching in disbelief.