Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

UK Works to Free Teacher in Teddy Bear Flap

Brown: Embassy is 'giving all appropriate consular assistance'

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 27, 2007 1:06 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – Gordon Brown said today that UK officials are working to free the British citizen being held in Sudan for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Mohammed." Gillian Gibbons was accused of blasphemy and faces prison time or 40 lashes. The British embassy in Khartoum is "giving all appropriate consular assistance to her," the PM said.

Gibbons can be held for only 24 hours under Sudanese law until she is charged with a crime, reports CNN, but she has now spent 2 days in custody. A Sudanese official says Gibbons may not be punished. "If the intentions are good, definitely she will be absolved and will be cautioned not to repeat this thing again," said the undersecretary for foreign affairs.

British teacher Gillian Gibbons has not yet been charged with any crime in the teddy bear flap.
British teacher Gillian Gibbons has not yet been charged with any crime in the teddy bear flap.   ((c) gsf747)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks to journalists during his monthly news conference at his residence 10 Downing Street in London Tuesday Nov. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Kieran Doherty, Pool)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks to journalists during his monthly news conference at his residence 10 Downing Street in London Tuesday Nov. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Kieran Doherty, Pool)   (Associated Press)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrives for a breakfast meeting at the Munyonyo Resort during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala, Uganda, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Dylan Martinez, Pool)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrives for a breakfast meeting at the Munyonyo Resort during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala, Uganda, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007. (AP...   (Associated Press)
This teddy bear's name is almost certainly not Mohammed.
This teddy bear's name is almost certainly not Mohammed.   ((c) EffervescentEva)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Sudanese embassy blames culture clash
BBC

Sudan is stepping up the investigation
AFP

A collegaue lays out the case for Gibbons
Guardian (UK)

 
Sudan • Gordon Brown • teddy bears • Gillian Gibbons

More Newser Stories

Teddy Teacher Spurs UK to Kill Own Blasphemy Law

Teddy Bear Teacher Tells Her Own Tale

'Terrified' Teddy Bear Teacher Happy to Be Home

Teddy Bear Teacher Goes Free

'Muhammad' Teddy Bear Teacher Wins Pardon
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne