I won't comment yet, but would any Muslims like to express their views on the following BBC news story?

Question

'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7112929.stm

I'm not interested in excluding people from commenting but there have been (as far as I can tell) no Muslims so far.
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Answer 1

My view is that they are blowing this way out of proportion. Its a teddy bear, thats it. I do not see how they came to the conclusion that it is an attempt to create an image of Muhammad(pbuh). Charges should be dropped against the woman as this seems rather ridiculous.

Answer 2

well i am not fully enlightened about the situation

many things have happened in Africa with Christian organisations having an agenda that is independent of spreading goodwill and charity

you can understand when local authorities will treat a simple incident such as this to be no different- part of their conspiracy theory- be safe rather than sorry

but like in any legal system- even here in Australia where muslims have been detained for fantasialogical reasons- the judges at the federal court will throw the case out and the authorities have to do all the apologising- i expect the same to be done here- that nigerian woman supposed to be arrested by the authorities for pending formal execution- the courts in nigeria threw her case out- but the media left the story like that because it was no longer newsworthy.

This is someone who has assumed that the facts stated are as they are reported. Reported facts in the third world are contentious- although there seems to be no need for it to be such here.

A charge is just an accusation- a member of the public makes a report, the police charge, and now the law is applied in the courts. she'll get out. You think the british govt will let her get punished for this?

Answer 3

The bear was NOT an image of Muhammad, the prophet. It was intended to be an image of a bear, Period. That was merely the NAME that was chosen for the bear. Following the logic of those folks who arrested the teacher, Mohammad Ali would be WELL advised to stay OUT of the Middle East as he will be destroyed for "bearing the name of Mahammad" i.e. his image?

It would appear to ME to be NOT an issue of an image of the Prophet but rather the use of Islam to discriminate against a foreigner and nothing else.

BB,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 4

I don't know how much more rediculous the Muslim world can get. But, I am sure that they will. What about the rape victim in Saudi Arabia getting 200 lashes and 6 months in prison? Or the rampage Pakistani Muslims went on destroying American businesses like KFC and MacDonalds because of a Danish cartoon of Mohammed. It was funny as all ... seeing them beat up that plastic statue of Ronald MacDonald. I put the photo on my wall and laugh at it everytime it catches my eye.

I don't see why naming a Teddy Bear, Mohammed, is such an affront. They name plenty of their baby boys that. Only Mexicans, Latinos and Puerto Ricans name their baby boys Jesus and the rest of the Christians don't sweat it.

If that school teacher didn't know better ... they should give her a skip on any punishment. If she knew and it was a deliberate affront, then she should get what she deserves.

Answer 5

Well, I'm not Muslim but I have to say that was awful but not unexpected. Since they didn't do it right away it's clear they thought about it for awhile. Perhaps the parents were afraid THEY would be beaten since it was their kids who named it and so blamed the teacher for it. Sure makes them look like cowards. One of their leaders must have caught wind of it and made a stink. You know how lustful for power some of these religious leaders are. There are a lot of 'Christian' ones who act just the same.

Answer 6

"A spokesman from the British Embassy in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, said it was unclear whether she had been charged"

She was arrested which is unfortunate. Being that her government doesn't know if she is charged or will be I will reserve my judgement. People are arrested for silly things and let go all of the time. I would hope that she will receive the mercy of the judicial system there. Stupid things like this happen when people are in a culture/country that they are not familiar with. Just because those of us in the Western world (including Muslims!) don't find it offensive and believe it is not against the law, doesn't mean that in Sudan it is not offensive and breaking their law. Laws and what people find offensive are relative to the country and culture you are in. No one is immune to the laws of a country just because we are from another country. I know in my US passport it says "in a foreign country you are subject to its laws". We have to do our best to respect the society we are living in.

But I myself find it totally retarded. I do not think she allowed the naming of the bear Mohammed in order to insult our religion.

Answer 7

"The BBC's correspondent Amber Henshaw said Ms Gibbons' punishment could be up to six months in jail, 40 lashes or a fine."
I'm picturing the Teddy bear as exhibit A in court. Did you or did you not name this teddy bear Muhammed? I wish Monty Python could summon up enough fearless people to make a new comedy about Islam (in the style of Life of Brian).

Answer 8

While I fully understand why they'd be offended by such a thing, I can't help but notice the contra-effect it'll have on the children involved. Their future engagements in Islam will have nothing to do with respect for the Prophet, but plain old fear. These kind of things make me shiver, really. That teacher had such a gentle way of bringing these kids closer to their religion and they just ruined it all. Shameful.

Answer 9

This is almost as stupid as trying to deny evolution or that the Earth is more than 4000 years old, or that condoms are a good thing, or trying to make Harry Potter out to be devil-worshipping.

Excuse me, religious people, any chance you could stop shooting religion in the foot?

Answer 10

It's absurd... There was obviously no intention of making an image of the Prophet Muhammad.