A female British schoolteacher faces a flogging, prison, or a fine after allowing kids in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad.

Gillian Gibbons has been held by Sudanese police since Saturday. She’s charged with “insulting religion and inciting hatred” after her seven-year-old pupils named a stuffed classroom toy Muhammad.

It’s a popular name in Sudan. But a local Islamic council took offense. A statement issued by the Assembly of the Ulemas said that Gibbons ” … in a very abusive manner, used the name of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah shame her.” She’s set to be arraigned in Khartoum Thursday.

If convicted, Gibbons could face a public lashing. Punishment would be determined by a Sudanese judge.

It’s generally supposed that most Muslims in Sudan find such serious charges over the matter to be surprising. But the folks at Free Infidel point out that Sudan’s leadership isn’t known for its moderation:

This is a country whose government has supported a genocidal war against its own black African population in which mass murder and rape of biblical proportions have been perpetrated. So we might generally expect unenlightened behavior from the Sudanese Government. What does remain surprising here is the sheer level of its stupidity.

The British government has lodged a strong complaint with Sudan’s ambassador in London.

Link: The Guardian