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Heh, I was wondering when this would come up!

I voted 'no'. It's just ridiculous, Actually it's sad. Am sure she is a lovely teacher who loves the kids and the kids love her. So jail, lashes - for this? No way..

But, she did make a mistake.

She should never, never have agreed to name the teddy 'Muhammad'. She should have foreseen - had the sensebilities to foresee - the kind of problem which did in fact occur...

But, I do have one genuine question. My understanding is that actually, naming a toy, or doll 'Muhammad' is not completely unnaceptable. What do millions of young muslim boys call their toy soldiers, their action men for example? I am sure that many use that name. Or even their imaginary friends? In the same way I am sure millions of muslim girls call their dolls, their pretend friends 'Fatimah' or 'Ayesha'...

I know that using it for animals is practically unthinkable - but for a toy, a teddy bear I don't think it's so bad. Hence the children actually came up with the name...

This will be interesting...especially since the offender is british...

Toyts R Us here has a bunch of stuffed dogs complete with dishdasha and headgear, which I got a laugh out of. It has to offend somebody eventually.

But, she did make a mistake.

She should never, never have agreed to name the teddy 'Muhammad'. She should have foreseen - had the sensebilities to foresee - the kind of problem which did in fact occur...

People make mistakes though.
Im sure as you said it was done with the kids intentions at heart.
I wonder if she actually thinks that helping children in that part of the world was actualy worth it?
I for sure wouldnt bother if I was a teacher.

ah! i wondered why they closed the school! i was supposed to have a group of school kids here for a vist and they were apparently stopped en route and told the school had been closed.

It's such a pity, all it takes it one person to take things out of the context or the spirit they were intended in, for it to escallate to this.

gezza wrote:People make mistakes though.
Im sure as you said it was done with the kids intentions at heart.
I wonder if she actually thinks that helping children in that part of the world was actualy worth it?
I for sure wouldnt bother if I was a teacher.

I agree, mate. Like I said, the more I think about it, it is actually really really sad.

People will say it's one person, what does it matter? But the world is made up of individuals, one-person-at-a-time.

Who knows just how positive a person she was in those kid's lives? No really - who knows just what an influence she might have been? Am not trying to make her out to be Mother Teresa but in this day and age, given all the cultural and religious strife we have, it's moving, touching to see 'someone like her' teaching in Sudan. Am sure she's had great things to say about muslims/life in a muslim country, telling people back home about how we(?)/they 'really are' etc etc.

And as you said, I wonder how she feels now? It's very sad...

listen to the debate on it now

www.talksport.net

It could be argued in what context the name has meaning. It is a name used as a name.

Was the teddy bear named as in the prohphet or as in many of the childrens names or their fathers names.

arniegang wrote:It could be argued in what context the name has meaning. It is a name used as a name.

Was the teddy bear named as in the prohphet or as in many of the childrens names or their fathers names.

Yes, good point, and who knows?

I can well imagine her using it as just another name - because from one perspective, it really is 'just another name'!

There are a million Muhammads walking around on this planet right now.
There are fictional characters - in books and movies - called Muhammad.

It is a special name, and it is just a name...

Kids call teddy bears names they love or names they are familiar with....That seems to be all that happened.
I dont think it was used in the context that it was taken

It's because Mohamed didn't believe in idol worship.

That's why you will not see pictures of Sheikh Mohamed or Sheikh Zayed all over Dubai or Abu Dhabi, as to worship or idolise something or someone is haram.

Remind me not to call my boss, and my 2 colleagues, and my carlift driver by their names again!

she didnot do it intentionaly , so its fine,
even Islam forgives mistakes not done intentionaly

There is one small thing I’d like to point out in the whole scenario. The questions of why and who? Surely, any rational person if they feel that their beliefs had in some way been affronted would firstly take up the issue with the teacher and failing a suitable explanation then proceed to the principal to take action. Given the context of the school and the diverse nature of religious backgrounds (it is not an Islamic school and has students from other faiths as well), the teacher or headmaster would simply admit the mistake and rectify the error – failing any course of action the “complainant” could then go justifiably to the police.

I feel the method used was purely self-serving to possibly show what a paragon of virtue he/ she is in the community and to draw attention to their own actions and piety and not necessarily that their religious beliefs had been affronted. You get attention seekers in every walk of life and community; it’s just unfortunate that it has escalated to this.

I know some of the other teachers at the school as well as in the area; theirs is definitely a labour of love and not for financial reward.

Sad

dbxsoul wrote:There is one small thing I’d like to point out in the whole scenario. The questions of why and who? Surely, any rational person if they feel that their beliefs had in some way been affronted would firstly take up the issue with the teacher and failing a suitable explanation then proceed to the principal to take action. Given the context of the school and the diverse nature of religious backgrounds (it is not an Islamic school and has students from other faiths as well), the teacher or headmaster would simply admit the mistake and rectify the error – failing any course of action the “complainant” could then go justifiably to the police.

I feel the method used was purely self-serving to possibly show what a paragon of virtue he/ she is in the community and to draw attention to their own actions and piety and not necessarily that their religious beliefs had been affronted. You get attention seekers in every walk of life and community; it’s just unfortunate that it has escalated to this.

I know some of the other teachers at the school as well as in the area; theirs is definitely a labour of love and not for financial reward.

Sad

good post

^ian^ wrote:It's because Mohamed didn't believe in idol worship.

That's why you will not see pictures of Sheikh Mohamed or Sheikh Zayed all over Dubai or Abu Dhabi, as to worship or idolise something or someone is haram.

Hehe, you're kidding about there being no pics of Sheikhs all over, right? Can't tell if sarcasm is involved.

It was an excellent example of sarcasm GT, the bottom line being "double standards"

Totally OTT.

I should imagine the kids wanted to name the teddy Mohammad as it is a boys name and was expressed with a warm friendliness.

Some Muslim friends of mine have a boxer dog called Mohammed after Mohammed Ali.

jabbajabba wrote:Some Muslim friends of mine have a boxer dog called Mohammed after Mohammed Ali.

Was it called Cascius before it moved to the UAE?

scot1870 wrote:

jabbajabba wrote:Some Muslim friends of mine have a boxer dog called Mohammed after Mohammed Ali.

Was it called Cascius before it moved to the UAE?

boom boom!

No this is in Berks, UK. I asked them once how they felt about Sharia Law in the UK. The answer was 'naaah!, thats some crazy saudi sh1t init?'.

Just heard on the radio.

She got fifteen days.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7119399.stm

Her boss "The school's director, Robert Boulos, told the AP news agency: "It's a very fair verdict, she could have had six months and lashes and a fine, and she only got 15 days and deportation."

What a lip service, party line towing no backbone twat!

One point that strikes me is that no Muslim countries have spoke up on this? Seems like anyone can hijack Islam now and not meet any opposition.

[quote="jabbajabba".

Seems like anyone can hijack Islam now and not meet any opposition.[/quote]

If only that were the case

I think it's ridiculous. One of the children actually said that he wanted the teddy named after him, his name is Mohammad.

So it's OK for hundreds of thousand of people, pets and what not to be called Mohammed, but you can't name a teddy?

Stupid stupid stupid!

Can I call my teddy Jesus!

Just heard that there have been public protests calling for her execution.

One Cleric said it was a conspiracy by the west against Islam?!? So let me try to understand this..... The MI5 / CIA secret service worked out an ingenious plan of planting a 58 year old school teacher with a 70's style perm in deep Sudan. A cunning plan was then hatched to have her use mind control over some school kids to manipulate them into naming their class teddy bear xxxxxxxx. Dam I did not see that one coming.

Here is a picture of the other infidel (I dare not use his name for fear of my life).

Death to the fluffy kefir!!! Chop off his paws and throw him from the mountain!!!!

Chocoholic wrote:I think it's ridiculous. One of the children actually said that he wanted the teddy named after him, his name is Mohammad.

So it's OK for hundreds of thousand of people, pets and what not to be called Mohammed, but you can't name a teddy?

Stupid stupid stupid!

Can I call my teddy Jesus!

Someone has beat you to it;

'Christ'mas Teddy';

"A lovely soft white bear for Christmas 2007, Klondike is sure to strike gold.

Klondike from Gund is a gorgeous teddy bear in the style of a polar bear with small two tone brown beads for eyes and a black cotton nose.

This lovely soft white bear wears a red plaid ribbon tied in a bow to show his Christmas spirit and has beans in his bottom and love in his heart.

Surface washable."

http://www.teddybearfriends.co.uk/teddy ... -bear.html

ARRGHH! i BET IT WAS THE JEWS THAT MADE THIS!!!

However - Pan, Thor and Haile Selassie are up for grabs if your quick though.