Hundreds of angry protesters gathered Friday in Khartoum, Sudan, outside the presidential palace to denounce a teacher. The reason for their protest was because the class named a teddy bear Mohammed. According to witnesses, there were about 1,000 people involved in the protest. Many of the people waved ceremonial flags, carried loud speakers, and even screamed for her execution. Late Thursday, the teacher, fifty-four year old Gillian Gibbons, was given fifteen days in jail after being convicted of insulting religion. Her lawyer, Ali Ajeb, said she was cleared of charges of inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. According to Ajeb, they plan to appeal the sentence before her fifteen days are up. Senior British lawmakers were determined to secure Gibbons’ early release. The two members of the House of Lords were set to arrive in Khartoum on Saturday. They will meet with government ministers and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. It is expected for a deal to be reached and Gibbons will be released. The march began Friday when worshippers began spilling out of mosques in the capital after their Friday prayers. They marched to the palace as well as Unity High School, which were both on the same street. Gibbons taught grade school there and it was her seven year-old class that named the bear. The British Embassy staff said they were giving the teacher, who was from Liverpool, full consular assistance. According to the Foreign Office, she could have received a sentence of 40 lashes, a fine, or jail term of up to a year. At the trial, it was revealed by the defense counsel the complaint against Gibbons came from a secretary at the school named Sarah Khawad.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11/30/sudan.bears/index.html
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