We should give the Sudanese Government a choice, release her or we will stop all aid, we will also expel all Sudanese passport holders from all British interests world wide, and before being removed, all assets should be sized, all borders should be closed and once this has happened, we should then unleash the full might of our army, they want to live in the 14th century then lets help send them back there... and then maybe we could turn the whole country into a solar farm.

Doug, Germany,

i think this is ridiculous and is totally against human rights and freedom of speech! no one should be treated like this! is it any wonder muslims come to england for a better way of life and be treated with RESPECT!

Claire and toni, preston, england

she is NOT guilty and should be released.

in islam,people cannot draw face or refer something that have face as Muhammad.

she has no intention to insult and not fully aware of this 'referring' matter.this is quite different with cartoon issue before this as the cartoonist directly draw to depicts the Muhammad's face.

she even suggested Faris as the toy's name but it is mistake made by the 20 pupils to chose Muhammad.she just follow the majority.

putting Muhammad in boys' name is OK as usual practice where we name our daughter/son with religion's respected figure like Adam,Mary in hope they will become good /religious people

in some EU countries, we can get jailed if we deny Holocaust; even it has nothing to do with Judaism.it is just denying not participated in the killing or what.some notable British like Nick Griffin,David Irving,Richard Verrall,Doug Collins,Richard Williamson have been prosecuted in court by denying Holocaust but there was no great public protest

shahir, southampton, UK

Such a sad piece of news. A World where teachers cannot teach due to politics and stupidity. Being a Muslim and a Teacher at a secondary school I am insensed at what I have heard recently.

The Holy Prophets Saying comes to mind:
'Deeds are Judged by Motives'

Let her teach and let the students learn!!!

Nadimur Rahman, Morden

Nadimur Rahman, Morden, England

This poor woman! How awful she must be feeling and how badly she has been treated. Sudanese diplomats should be expelled from our country in protest. After all what exactly was her crime and in what way was she being blasphemous? As a Christian my understanding of blasphemy is showing disrespect towards God. What sensible person could be offended by a teacher allowing her pupils to call their class teddy Mohammed-it is a very popular name amongst UK Muslims. Would their mothers all be imprisoned in Sudan or is this just an incident of racism and religious bigotry against Gillian Gibbons?

Sarah Richards, Leeds, UK

Joseph Kelly - How is naming anyone after a man who sanctioned violence during the month of truce, was a polygamist who also practiced child marriage, sanctioned religious hatred and lying to further his cause an 'honour'?

adam, London,

"This is disgusting, why havent any British Muslims step forward with a view to have this teacher released? This barbaric outlook on life is completely backward. I appreciate that this is a highly opinionated comment, however, this action against the teacher and the lack of action from our UK muslim community is a disgrace, why are we allowing it to continue?

Calum, London, "

Don't be stupid, Calum. Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said in a statement released in London: "This is a disgraceful decision and defies common sense."

Pandra, San Diego, CA

If it were not against our civilized Christian law, I would jihad against muslims. Don't be fooled by the muslims who say it is not their flavor of belief, they are silent about condemning this barbarism. The muslim “religion” demands that the government be a religious one; where does that leave other people, but at their mercy. He he ho ho ha ha.

John, San Leandro, CA

I feel like shaking anyone that makes any appeasing comments towards this kind of religious fundamentalism. It is medieval. It is primitive. It is stupid. It is inhuman. It is brainless. It is unutterably vile. If it were not so serious it would be pathetic. It has no place in today's world. Somehow we have to find a way of combatting it. Closing Sudan's borders and refusing to trade is an understandable reaction, but I can't see how it can solve the problem. How can we reach and disable the fundamentalist fanatics, worldwide, that promote this poison? Somehow, we have to change the culture, get the people properly educated, empower the women, remove the fundamentalists' power base.

Understand this : at no point do we have to try not to offend them. Taking offence is what they do.

Somehow, we have to take them on. Wish I knew how.

Mike, Sydney, Australia

This is disgusting, why havent any British Muslims step forward with a view to have this teacher released? This barbaric outlook on life is completely backward. I appreciate that this is a highly opinionated comment, however, this action against the teacher and the lack of action from our UK muslim community is a disgrace, why are we allowing it to continue?

Calum, London,

It's time people in power in this country stood up to these bullies and bigots (both here and abroad) and told them where to get off rather than pander to their needs and 'beliefs'. Where are the muslim leaders condemming such actions? Islam equals 'peace'? What a sick joke. Where is Brown or the God squad of bishops etc.? Too scared to raise their heads above the political parapet in case they cause 'offence'.

It's enough to make me want to insult Islam just for the bloody hell of it! Remember the Life of Brian stoning scene??????!
Perhaps Super-Ted is on his way to the rescue...

Richard, Bromley, UK

Stinks of a political kidnap to me. When "the "situation has been peacefully resolved", look out for a Mosque coming your way soon!!

Ant, Limousin, France

If many horrible men worldwide could be given the prophet's name, what is so wrong about a teddy bear that the kids love being named that way?

Imposing the Shariah law on a school teacher who was only practising democracy (since the students themselves chose the name) is not only inhumane, it is ridiculous.

I wonder if the very parent who blew up the issue will be willing to let his child get a lashing as well.

Divya, Singapore,

First point. She is female therefore 3rd class citizen in a Muslim society (somewhere behind donkies and goats). Second, she is British therefore likely to be used as a barganing chip (blackmail) to extort more 'aid' out of us. Gordon Broon has promised billions of British taxpayer's money to Africa in aid and this is the sort of thanks we get. Let's stop aiding these people and let them revert to the stone age.
Gutless Labour Government - Why not try, " Let her go or you will be getting ALL your ex-pat residents back and no further help from Britain."

Bob, Cowes, UK

We keep saying it!
they keep doing it!
Look at the pope now, he wants mass said in Latin, again.
why do we bother trying to educate

We move forward despite and because of questioning religious zealots and uncommon common sense prevailing.
The muslim extremists has pulled the muslim nations back hundreds of years and killed millions of muslims.
They will never learn

Bill, Sheffield,

In my experiance of life, it is clear, every child I have ever met has a place in Heaven, and every adult has a lot of catching up to do.

pete, slough, berks

We expect these people to respect our values in our coutry and we should do the shame if their countries. You have to be a fool not to respect or at least be sensitive to the situation in countries like Sudan, after all it was Bid Ladens hide out for many years you can see stickers of him in the windows and bummer of buses. Plus the cartoon thing upset so many... I worked in Sudan and the expats think as most expats do that they are better than the locals and look down on them. Hiding there regular drinking parties everynight in a state with shria law. The teachers I met in Sudan where not even qualified to teach and out drinking and partying everynight. Wake up and smell the coffee... and respect these people in there home land.

Simon, South Shields, UK

This is a sad example for how people with good intention and will can be put behind the bars in the name of religion. I can't believe that the Sudanese officials are so dumb as to believe these sort of allegations in the name of a teddy.

Aravind, Bangalore, india

What is wrong with you people? They are talking about whipping her 40 times because she named a Teddy bear after Mohammed? That is the problem. Whoever is saying "she should've known better" should be ashamed.

People name their dog "Jesus" here in the United States. If we were the same as these lunatic hate-mongering islamo-facists we would do the same? We don't ship cold-blooded murderers even once. We are dealing with 14th century mindsets in the 21st century. Stop blaming the victim and blame the perpetrator. This "shariah law" is the problem.

John, Atlanta, USA

Islam in this form is not Islam. It is nothing more then an excuse to justify an innocent Teacher for doing her job, it's used to justify sentencing an innocent girl who was raped to 200 lashes. These leaders have no morals, other then what's on their own agenda. Just about every religion at one point was used as justification for the abuse and mistreatment of innocent victims and it should be condemned across the world. I feel the borders of these extreme countries should be completely sealed until their respective governments change or until the people decide to wake up and force a change, only then should they be allowed to return to the civilized world. And if that is how they want to live, so be it, they can stay isolated indefinitely. If there really is a Prophet Mohammad, all these extremist Muslim leaders would be guilty of insulting Islam.

Terry, West Berlin, NJ, USA

I would like to point out that as we speak a case is being brought in the high court againt "Jerry Springer - the opera" for blasphemy. I note one respondant made the point that Christians would be upset if a teacher in the UK called a bear Jesus. I certainly agree that some fundamentalist Christians certainly would. I do not in any way condone that, the current blasphemy case or the issue in the Sudan. I am a strong proponant of the freedom of speech. Let us just remember it is not only 3rd world islamic cultures that contain extremist religious fundamentalists.

Mike, South Yorkshire,

The society lives in the 12th century with their religious views. They haven't progressed since then and modern society has taken notice. The only progress that will ever occur in these societies must come from within. They must overcome these paranoic/militant views of the world around them. The world will progress with or without them, they must make a choice for their own future, and their childrens.

ron, vermillion, s.d.

To Tim, Los Angeles, USA

It is very well known that taking Muhammad's name in vain is deeply insulting to Muslims and while doing this in a Western country is not illegal it is not sensible. By giving a teddy bear the name this teacher used very poor judgment and should have known better. She will be judged on the basis of the law that applies to the country she is in and not by British law which is the correct thing to do. By insulting Muslims further by indicating that they have all been born out of wedlock is simply crass.

Joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

I came to Canada to escape the hardship of living in my country. I believe the same thing also for these muslims who came to now my country , Canada. I still don't know why these muslims have to impose their culture which are abhorrent to other people. Why don't they leave behind those practices and start a new life. After all isn't it that 's the reason why they are here?

Am really getting mad to think that part of our taxes have support these muslims who are most of them are on welfare and they demand so much. They should go back to where they came from and fight over there to what they believed are correct. Pathetic!

Ramsie Canada

Ramsie T, Toronto, Canada

Luckily Islam is a religion of tolerance and forgiveness so she has nothing to worry about. Right? I suspect that if The Prophet himself were to come back to earth he would shake his head in disbelief at what is being done in the name of Islam.

GK, Calgary, Canada

So where do Muslim Boys called Muhammed or Mohammed by their parents fit into all of this? The ultimate human effigy?

It saddens me when I hear stories about Islam like this, because in the 'Western' world the Islamic societies and communitues try very hard to integrate the Muslim world with the Christian one. And this sort of behaviour only serves to diminsh that.

Muslim communities in Africa and the Middle East will never be truly reconciled with the Western World if they continue to allow barbaric practices such as this.

Perhaps we in the Western World will never really understand these secluded communities, however in a rapidly changing world, I have to think that there will come a time when these practices will not fit in.

I hope this does not create a backlash against the Islamic Community in the West.

Charlotte, Wiltshire, UK

Mohammed, peace be upon him, liked and loved many things, among them children and cats. The subject of affection is such a gentle thing and its learnings an important part of Islam, as is the education of a young child. Here we have a harmless comfort, a chiids Teddy bear elevated to a true Icon - The Teddy bear as the symbol of distrust. This is a torn area of the planet, it is the new wild west, many people of little between hardships except dealing with fear and diminished dignity. These are all the ingredients for the triumph of ignorance. And so it goes.

A Medley, Brusells,

Naming you child Mohamed is an honor, naming a teddy bear Mohamed is insulting to Islam. A teacher working in Sudan should have known better.

Some people would get very upset if we called out teddy bear God or Jesus in this country.

The fact that the punishment is severe is simply an extension of the harsh punishments for all crimes in Muslim countries.

I am not a Muslim but even I think this is not acceptable.

joseph Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

she did nothing wrong. Every muslim in the world should be standing up for her right now. I have been thinking all evening how can i help her from the usa. any suggestions?
-a muslim.

calista, Boston, USA/MASS

Everyone is getting very upset -and quite rightly too - about the possible fate of the British teacher. But is anyone getting upset about a German lad of 17 who's been kept in a Turkish jail now for nearly 7 months, pending trial for alleged "rape" of a 13-year old British girl. On holiday, she was in a Turkish disco till midnight (!) and told him she was 15. A medical report allegedly confirms she's still a virgin. After all this time her statement has still not arrived in official translation at the Turkish court, so the case keeps being adjourned and the lad's imprisonment (7 months, in Turkey) continues with no end in sight. Have there been any protests about this in Britain?
(Please don't misunderstand me, I'm an advocate of women's rights and the severe punishment of rapists.)

alan, cologne,

Religion of Peace at work nothing to see here, move along move along.

Though a little bit of the fault lies with this teacher, what did she expect going to Sudan? She or someone should have educated her more on the country, does she not see what they do to people in Daffur in the name of Islam? Naming the bear M******* was not the brightest move in such a hostile place!

John Smith, Toronto, Canada

sorry foir her, but being in a country like that with devout people all lliving in a brain washed by religion society should have known a bit better, I live and work in China teaching English and there are taboo's here, but not like these religious fanatics countries

barry, guangzhou, China

I am still awaiting some comments from bodies like the muslim council of Britain. Knock knock Dr. Bari !! We always thought that you were the voice of moderate muslims in Britain. Hope that the fear of Fatwah is not keeping you mum.

Mocho, London, U.K.

What a shame that this has just blown out of proportion. She was only doing her job as a teacher to let her pupils have their SAY......what is wrong with that?

Ms Chandrika Gordhan, Storubridge, UK

She is very, VERY cool, and I support her totally, and James is ga- straight.

James, HI, Low

This world has gone absolutely mad. I've never heard of a parent being given any amount of lashes for calling their son Muhammad. It's a name for g*d's sake!

A Nonymous, squibble, blik

This is absolutely and completely preposterous! This poor teacher has done nothing wrong! The British Government should protest at the highest possible level for the immediate and unconditional release of this lady.
This was a pure misunderstanding of culture and belief, and this teacher should not be punished in anyway.
In britain freedom of speech is permitted to an extent, and we do not punish someone (regardless of ethnicity) for their misconception of religion.

Mr P James, Swansea, Wales, UK

I contribute a generous amount of money to charitable causes around the world each month by direct debit.

Today I have decided to stop all contributions to any African country. I will only contribute to countries that are prepared to help themselves and show at least some level of intelligence.

Sudan is clearly still in the stone age.

Patrick, Hampshire, UK

John Clarke, I pity you. I despair at your warped attitude. Even in this case of an honest and valuable teacher being grotesquely mistreated by a despicable islamic state, you manage to find a way of criticising the west and bringing in a reference to oil.

Grow up. Get real. Fundamentalist islam stinks. Sharia law stinks. Period.

Mike, Sydney, Australia

I agree with all the comments on this article so far. However, the significant point in all this is that there is no comment from any muslim. Why not ? Do they also think that this is a ridiculous ruling ? If so, say so. This is a problem today - moderate muslims burying their heads in the sand and not speaking up. I f you want us to respect you, condemning infidels to death, issuing fatwas and torching cars won't do it. You have to speak up and show us you deserve our respect.

David, Cincinnati, USA

David, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

savages!!!!!
lets stop all aid and support from the west and like water they will find their own level in the cultures and civilisations of the world,

richierich, Warwickshire, England

"Thank God I'm an atheist!!" -- Michele, France, Saumur, France

I like this quote, it's one of the best example of an 'oxymoron' that i've seen. Thanks Michele :-)

Mohammed, London, UK

How can people expect us to believe that God is love - if they want to beat people and put them in prison for innocent things gone wrong. No-one is perfect. No-one knows what is in the heart of another.
Mohammed was a great leader and a prophet who taught people to love their neighbours and each other. Wasn't the teacher being a 'good neighbour' trying to teach children of others?
There is a saying in the Koran - First your neighbour - afterwards your family. What way is this for Sudan to treat a neighbour - the teacher Gillian?
Many Muslim friends say they are horrified by such things and the way that many leaders of their faith behave. They believe loving God and faith is in the heart. It is for GOD to judge offences against God or prophets not US!!!!

olivia mainwaring, Chepstow, UK

sorry but why at 52 years of age was she so ignorant of their laws. i disagree with the punishment but ignorance is a poor excuse.

jayne , twickenham,

This is the consequence of succesfull governmets especially Labour ones around the world tolerating everything from Muslims.
I think it is timemoderate Muslims and governments come out at once and condemn barbarism of these countries.
We are supposed to obey their laws and they dont obeirs theirs here !!! Hard to know why.
This poses serious questions on multicultarlism !!!

peter, London,

And to think some people say that Africa is a backwards continent!

James Goodson, Hampshire, UK

Hhmmm. So how come Mohammed al-Fayed gets away with it??? Can we now also give him 40 lashes?? and ironically, he does look a little bit like a teddy bear...

B Gordon, Birmingham,

I am a solid Christian but have always defended "separation of church and state" to the chagrin of others.
I hear people all the time lamenting that America was founded on Christian principles and should go back to Christian values. If you look at our own history, things like this were not uncommon before the Constitution was ratified.

Quentin Cromwell, Swartz Creek, Mi

My husband has just won a raffle for the prize of a Teddy Bear run by a charity .where you had to name the bear from a list of names one of which was Jesus . Being a Christian my husband chose this name and lo and behold he won ,should he have been offended or take it in the context by which it was meant ,fun and raising money for a worthy charity.Why do a minority of muslims take offence so easily ,is it because they are looking for any excuse to cause trouble.
Linda & John Rugby

HUNT, RUGBY, U/K

The only thing worse than this charade would be for it to happen in London at some point in the future when Islam rules Britain.

Ron Velten, Dallas,

This seems nothing but cultural misunderstanding and I hope the Sudanese legal system will view in that way, however, its wrong to trial and test the whole Sudanese Authority because of this event and also publicize this matter to the extent, that it become every major newspaper front page news; surely that does not help the British embassy in Khartoum and the teacher.

zaine hazal, Elezie,

I hope the UN intervenes in this barbaric ruling but as they largely seem to be very ineffective, I fear for Ms Gibbons. Why this country deals with countries with poor human rights records is beyond belief. The same goes for Saudi Arabia with it's recent ruling about the rape victim. If it wasn't for the fact that they've got oil, no-one would deal with them. Again money talks when it comes to China, the greedy nations, East and West, will always turn a blind eye to such atrocities.

John Clarke, Bourne, UK

"get a grip" is all I can say to the Sudanese Government.

Surely the Government should be spending more time on sorting out much more pressing domestic problems, than this pettiness?

The Sudanese Government is reliant on inward foreign direct investment, and such nonsense damages those business relationships. How short-sighted.

John Bishop, Zurich, Switzerland

As a kafir and a mere woman, she would have no authority to overrule the child's decision on naming its teddy bear, because that would involve making a decision about a matter of Islamic law.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

I'm sorry but Islamic law is appaling and barbaric. This whole Mohammad thing is ridiculous. There is no God and the sooner humans realize this, the better we will be. Although I suspect Islam uses the idea of God to subjugate women.

Bronco, New York,

I have to say i think this is a bit rediculous. How many children must their be in Sudan known by the same name as Muhammad?

You also have to pose the question, was Gillian to know any better? She is considered a 'Westerner' and In British society this story is more than acceptable. Its very common to call people by biblical names such as Jesus, James, Peter etc. Do all our parents get taken to court for that? I dont think so.

I think this is just another case of PC gone mad, and muslims taking religion that one step too far. We dont prosecute them for everything they say and do, and the harm and annoyance they cause the british public is far more than we cause them.

Correct me if im wrong...but have you ever seen a Christian Church in a predominately Muslim country? No.

Have you seen Mosques and Muslim places of worship in Christian Countries? Yes.

Muslims either need to learn to accept the manorisms and societies of other religions, or we should take theirs away.

James, Hertford,

Thinking of this and the other news item concerning an arab woman who was raped and is now facing 200 lashes it appears that the principal crime for a muslim is to be born a woman. It makes my blood boil to know that we have sycophantic businessmen over here bending backwards to have lucrative deals with muslim tyrants, and aid workers who give of their time and talents to people who quite frankly treat westerners like cattle. It's time to call a halt - stop propping them up and delaying the inevitable. If they think that Allah is so great then it is Allah who should be helping them. Allah obviously slipped up when he allowed infidels to exist.

Thank God I'm an atheist!!

Michele, France, Saumur, France

This is a good example of why religion should not have governmental authority.

NM1, New Mexico, USA

What sort of crazy culture would 'take offence' at the name of a teddy bear and threaten corporal punishment for a completely innocent mistake by a schoolteacher who was only there to help their children?

Moderate Muslims are concerned that this will heighten anti-Muslim feeling. They are right to be.

The problem is, they never seem to do anything about it.

frank, UK, UK

My understanding is that Muhammad is a commonly used name in muslim areas of the world.

Other than in the minds of some of the parents, there was obviously no intent to insult Islam.

Perhaps no muslim would have made this mistake - However, I would like to know how much the parents that complained dwelt on the fact that the teacher was a non-muslim westerner and how seriously it would have been taken if the teacher had been a native muslim.

Kevin, London,

If this teacher is found guilty it is time that we stopped dealing with this country in trade and in any other aspect of support. This was a genuine mistake, the children were involved in this decision, are they going to lock them up as well.

Absolute madness!

BH, uk, UK

In this day and age surely religion and law should be seperate? It's 2007, not 1007.

Bob, Manchester,

You know, I never considered myself a racist or bigoted person before, but over the last 10 years, the more and more I hear about Middle Eastern Muslim coutries the more one word comes to mind: BARBARIC.

I realize I am supposed to be a liberal and accept everyone and try to be emphatic, but there comes a point when you have to realize that there are belief systems that are just wrong!

Inverse137, california, CA

Good article. I hope these folks realize that if one were to name an action figure Jesus that this would not have to refer to the Biblical Jesus. He could be a Spanish farmer or jungle rebel or whatever. Same name does not equal same person.
One does have to be rational to embrace this truth. Irrational people would whip the teacher and thus prove they were irrational.

R. Brown, Houston,

If, as I understand, there are NO pictures or illustrations of Mohammed how can these Muslims treat that Bear as an effigy?

And as for an insult! Insults are INTENTIONAL.

And Muslims wonder why we don't trust them?

Schmuel, Peterborough, England

Encouraging children to vote? The authorities will have to stamp on this, or people will start thinking they approve of democracy.

Joe, Birmingham, UK

How they can treat a professional in this manner is diplorable, they should not only release her now but pay her massive compensation. It just goes to show how twisted these people are. If the punishment is carried out all expats should be withdrwan from the country and all trade should cease

stuart, london, london