think that the politics of darfur are playing a large part in this.

Phil Barnes, prestob, england

I hope other would be charity/aid/paid workers take note. Let Africa look after itself(or not). Seems to me help comes at to higher price.

john , Birkenhead, UK

Ordeal of this teacher reflects a clear case of injustice. It demonstrates how an incompetent government, hostile to the West, blows an innocuous incident out of proportion. UK government should do its utmost to get her released from prison. As a teacher myself, I feel deeply concerned about her.

subho basu, Syracuse, United States

I'm speechless. These mobs are unIslamic and the Sudanese religious authorities should know better than to male a mockery out of the Shariah.

This is an insult to Islam, and I sincerely hope that people here in the UK reading about this situation will realise this. These mobs are not baying for blood because of Islam, they are baying for blood due to fear.

As a Christian, I offer prayers for Mrs Gibbons, but also for those who are allowing hate and fear to drive their worldly actions towards violence, instead of allowing love and compassion to guide their lives.

Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, England

Regarding Gillian Gibbons, sounds like another good reason for the Brits to boycott israel.

Jake Eisenwasser, Chicago, IL

I am shocked at the comments made. The people protesting are no more representative of Islam than the IRA are of Christianity. Just as the KKK do not represent me as a white person. Please don't judge millions on the actions of a tiny minority.

Paula, Guildford, UK,

"Everyone has been very nice, but one of my fears, and I imagine my mother’s also, will be that this results in any sort of resentment towards Muslim people."

I'm afraid it's difficult not to. The whole issue and the violent protests (asking for her execution, for goodness sake!) are in the name of Islam. Moderate Muslims might express exasperation and indignation at the 'Islamification' of issues like this - but what else is it? Extremist Muslims are making it so.

Jonathan, Farnham, UK

So how long before the 'Moderate Muslims' come out and start preaching to us that "Islam is a religion of peace"? Gimme a break!

Haile Mohawe, cleveland, OHIO

"Islam is a religion that embraces peace" they say.

That is why many radical Muslims want to kill this innocent teacher whose only intension way was to do good by leaving her luxuries of home in UK to serve the children of Sudan!!

An agnostic person like me can't think of anything but harsh sarcastic comments about the injustice of this situation!

VJ, Sydney, Australia

I was just reading the BBC world comment page and was quite distressed to read numerous comments insisting that the children in the class should be punished. One even suggested execution of the children and their parents. Although most of these comments were from Africa, Yemen and S.A.. I was still shocked. I am a muslim and cannot understand how they think God would want this. How can they be so ignorant. There seems to be a world of difference between their beliefs and mine.

sheena, Bradford, U.K.

Has anyone considered that this result might have been a compromise by an enlightened and independent judiciary?

It was obvious that by the time the Courts got this problem some careful diplomatic thinking had to take place.

Pete Balchin, Solicitor , Bristol, UK

A lot of excellent posts....

Why is there such oppression for females in this religion and the middle east? Really, I'd like to know why Islam treats women like second rate citizens...

In the US, we do value ALL human beings- Male OR FEMALE.

I have another question...Do any of the radical protestors have a job? Or do they get paid to protest?

Chris , Dallas, TX, USA

There are people starving all over Africa and the Islamic world, and this crowd is upset about a teddy bear named Mohammad, and that after a child in the class with that name. The other crowds were rioting over cartoons of the Prophet, or they were rioting over The Satanic Verses. Then the people over here will be moaning about how people are predjudiced against Muslims! How did they get that way? There are people in America who go to funerals of GI's killed in Iraq with signs saying God Hates Fags and Hindu fanatics who burn Christian missionaries, there are even Buddhists who kill Tamils, but are there quite so many and are they quite so visible?

What we really need is for decent religious people to stand up against fanaticism, and it is especially important for Muslims to stand up right now so that others will know that to be a Muslim is not to be a fanatic.

Christopher Hobe Morrison, Pine Bush, Ulster County, NY, USA

Perhaps Sudanese Muslim clerics have instigated these violent demonstrations because in the West, cuddly toy bears are named 'Teddy' after the late US President Edward (Teddy) Roosevelt (?) Or then again, perhaps they are totaly ignorant of this fact and their self-righteous outcry is nothing more than an excuse to show their Allah how 'worthy' they are of a place in the Muslim paradise... What a farce.

Jean Booth, Hague, Netherlands

Those denouncing Islam and religion in these comments are just as much chumps of the extremists as the morons taking part in the demonstration. The extremist factions of Islam have a single goal: divide the world into Muslims and everyone else. It is pluralism they hate and pluralism they fight. Buy into an "us vs. them" mentality and they win. The "war on terror" will be won on ideological, not military grounds. The teacher's son appears to understand this. It is a shame many of the respondents here do not.

S D, Boston,MA,

Why are you not picking holes in the laws of islam? If as Ibrahim Mogra says, "intention is of paramount importance ... " then bring it all out into the open and let it be shown that Ms Gibbons had absolutely no "intention" to cause offence to Islam.

Further more, attack those that wish to segragate sensible rational thinking on this problem between cultures and show them for what they are. Harbingers of hate, persecusion, loathing and entrenched racism.

Pot and kettle come to mind here. But then out in Sudan, the local Mullah is not going to be conversant with the tolerant attitides bestowed upon his religion outside his country.

I fear this is a double edged ploy to set two cultures against one another. Instigated by the prohets and diciples of hate ..... dare I say from both sides of the cultural devide.

CA, Lagos, Nigeria

I gather it was a Christian School and the basis of the education was an English curriculum.
They really stood by her at the school,didn't they?
Who funds this school,is what I'd like to know.

alan maddox, wirral, ENGLAND

Here's a message to the protesters:

All the woman wanted to do was go over there and be of some help to you all, do her little bit.

If the lady's made an innocent mistake, it's called being human. Oh that we could all be as perfect as you must be!

Tom Bower, Oxford, oxfordshire

@ Arik Silverman, Milwaukee, USA

Your right, there would be an upset if it happened in britain. But it would go to the headteacher to sort out. It would never in a million of years end in a prison sentance and vicious protests. They are like a bunch of lions looking for there next kill.

Nathan, UK,

Islam is the worlds fastest growing religion....god help us all...I fear the next century will be a new "dark ages" across the world.

adrian, aldershot, uk

A wise woman used to say "Choose carefully what you will die in a ditch for." Surely a religion with 1 billion followers cannot be so fragile as to be harmed by the naming of a little Teddy Bear?

Merri, Salem, USA

The lesson is to stay away from these countries as an individual. Don't try to help (patronise) them. But if you do try to help (interfere) expect problems and danger. I say this as a kind hearted (but realistic) person The bottom line is that we should stay away. It will be said that if we don't help there will be much human misery but the fundamental thing is not to give them free fish but to give them the ability to catch their own fish.

Bob, Brussels,

I have done exactly what Francisco advised, written a stinking email to the Sudan embassy. I would go one step further. People of England, I am proud of my country and that my granddad died to save what has made this country great. Our citizens should not be held to ransom like this. We should demonstrate this weekend outside parliament. We have a voice and we can chose to use it. Lets do something important and not all sit on the sofa on Saturady watching the 3 Primership game in a row. THIS SATURDAY, PARLIAMENT SQUARE. PLEASE COME!

Reuben, London,

We should all hope that the Sudanese will not be so foolish as to allow any physical harm to befall Ms Gibbons and that she will be repatriated at the earliest possible opportunity.

I think we should all focus our attention on the obscenity that is Darfur, which has been continuing by my reckoning for at least 6 years. The same sentiments that have been expressed towards Ms Gibbons today have been directed unrestrained at the people of Darfur for all that time and have taken the form of a genocide only rivalled in its barbarity in recent years by events in Rwanda and Iraq.

John, Dublin,

This just illustrates the need to promote free speech worldwide. Mrs. Gibbons, when naming that bear, did probably not intend to utter any meaning about Islam. However, even if she did, a reaction like this is just wrong. Religion should never be above the right to free speech.This is just why we need Muhamad caricatures and the like, in order to promote change. But criticism from Western nations is probably not enough either, it may just increase the distance, change must come from within. Something like an Arab version of Monty Python would be nice, actually I believe that would've been just great.

Some say a movement of reform is already appearing. Books criticizing Islam, written within Islamic countries, are appering from time to time.

However, it would've been nice if it didn't take so long.

Finn, Bergen, Norway

So, Lord Ahmed has embarked on a perilous 'rescue mission' and aims to negotiate with the Sudanese Government to secure the release of the unfortunate Ms Gibbons.

What exactly will he be negotiating, and on whose authority?

Negotiations are a two-street - the Sudanese will require something in return for freeing Ms Gibbon. What are they getting?

We should be told.

And please, please, if he is successful, spare us a triumphant return with airport photo opps for Lord Ahmed and his delegation.

Really-Fed-Up-With-All-This, Oxford,

Mohamud must be wondering where he went wrong, in the same way Jesus must have wept during the Spanish Inquistion. Staggering to think we all worship the same God!!

Chris, Chesterfield, UK

It seems the more we in the 'privelaged west' attempt to help the disadavantaged people of these autocratic, predominately muslim society's, the more we here of absurd 'judicial failings against non muslim people.

I am all for each country having its own laws and values, but to sugget Islam is offended by the naming of a teddy bear to mohammed, come off it. Therefore any person who does not hold the devine status of 'prophet' and is called mohammed must also insult Islam!

Rob, Sheffield, UK

People gone mad....i thought that was stupid making all this noise over a teddy bear...people are dieing with hunger and diseases and all they think about is a teddy bear called Mohammed...I am sick of being all labeled the same when something like this happens but i can not really blame anyone but us.

Abdullah, London,

As far as I know Mohammmed is just another name among Muslims. There are so many Mohammeds that no one could possibly think of the name referring directly to the Prophet. The Sudanese children who called their teddy bear Mohammed could not have been thinking of the Prophet.. They just liked the teddy bear and wanted to give him what is to them a nice homely name. Couldn't the learned judge see that, or did he but was afraid of those ignoramuses yelling in the plaza? Was he afraid they would kick the bejesus (oops, sorry, fellow Christians) out of him?

Freddie , Malta.

Freddie, Zebbug, Malta

My first thoughts are with Gillian Gibbons and her family.

This case does make me wonder whether this might be a good time for Parliament to formally repeal our own blasphemy laws - which are largely defunct anyway.

There is plenty of protection for true incitements to hatred within the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 for us to repeal a law that could, in a Christian form, theoretically result in a similar miscarriage of justice in this country.

Peter, London, UK

Wait - didn't the US under Bill Clinton just bomb Sudan's "pharmaceutical" plant in 1998 because they suspected Al-Qaeda involvement?

Also, didn't Osama bin Laden live in Khartoum for a time under state protection (five years till 1996)?

And these are the people the UK wants to "negotiate" with, and "summon" an ambassador over Mr Teddy?

Get Gibbons out of there (if necessary after 10 days), issue a state warning against UK citizens traveling or working there, and bleed them dry at your convenience like Zimbabwe and Mugabe!

What's the matter with you Brits?!

Alf, Queens, NY, US

If there was no religion and every body had their own thoughts on life, there would probably have been less wars or none at all. History dictates that religion is the cause or the basis of most wars.
When i'm out and about, I don't see an african or an indian man walking down the street, I see another human being but to some people, they don't give you a chance because of some morbid rules that judges the colour of the skin or some genetic defects.

Jamie, Preston, England

The Islamic PR department at work again. What a beautiful understanding loving religion...I think I might be converted.

Milliband should bear Teddy in mind when talking to the Sudanese (Teddy Roosevelt) that is . ' Speak softly and carry a big stick'. It seems that we lack the cahones to use the big stick when it comes to dealing with islamic states....most recently the Iranians...now the Sudanese feel that they can take our citizens hostages without consequence.

Why?...because they know we are terrified of causing offence to Islam. Our own muslim population would side with their muslim brothers in any conflict...and therein lies the unpalatable truth. We can't do anything to an islamic state without casuing offence to a sizable amount of our own population, who bear far more allegiance to Islam than they do to Britain. So...get used to this. You're going to see a lot more of it, until we get a Government prepared to stand up for British ideals on the international stage.

Simon, Carrick, UK

This episode clearly demonstrates why Britian shoul not accept refugees from just any country, or the Sudan in particular. Their culture is clearly incompatible with ours. Refugees from countries like this should go to like minded countries, and culture really does matter..

JohnW, Oldham,

religious people really do need to get a grip and show some sense of humour! this carry on about anyone insulting god of islam or christianity etc is become rather out-of-date and boring.

a worldwide ban on religious would solve the problem to the mess we're in today :)

Tad, scotland,

Here's an idea. Let every resident of the UK, nay the world, who is appropriately outraged by the actions of the citizens of Sudan send a teddy bear, large or small, to the Sudanese embassy in London with a label around its neck bearing a name of choice with a request to "please look after this bear". Perhaps Mohammed might be a popular choice.

"I am Spartacus"

Sally-Anne, Braintree, Essex, England

It is a shame that the people who are protesting and calling for killing Mrs Gibbons are ignoring the words of one of their other prophets: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "

Marlene Koenig, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

"Would a teacher in a British school allow students to name a teddy bear "Jesus"?

Arik Silverman, Milwaukee, USA"

In today's ridiculously PC society, one wonders. However, the more pertinent question is, 'if a teacher in a British school allowed students to name a teddy bear Jesus, would that teacher be arrested and face the possibility of 40 lashes and thousands calling for her death?'

Let this be a wake up call. This is not just an issue on some distant shore.

C Heathcote, Tonbridge,

Intolerance betrays bigotry. I am ashamed that Sudanese have magnified what was essentially an innocent human error.

Do people in Sudan never make a mistake ? If not, why are they paranoid ?

I am sure most Muslims all over the the world would be as embarrassed by this "mountain out of a mole" saga as I am.

Life is too short to squander it on triviology.

D.Abdul Jaleel, Darlington, England

Want to tell the sudanese how you feel about this, now you can;
http://sudan-embassy.co.uk/en/component/option,com_contact/ampItemid,3/

Tony Rawlings, Woking, Surrey

who knew a teddy could inspire the sudanese to act up and protest .... i guess darfur and war and peace and famine aren't as inspiring as a bad bad teddy!

marie, new york city,

Beware, the muslim extreemists can push the placid christian/secular majority only so far before they feel the backlash,if they carry on like this I fear for all muslims living in the west.

paul, london,

Does anyone still have any respect for Islam? It's an absurdity.

And BTW: Religions are nothing but mythology. I mistakenly thought the human race would be beyond these medieval follies by now. Hey, humans have only been around for 100,000 yrs, so we're young. We can still learn.

Martin Mells, Lewes, Sussex., UK

We have special trained forces to deal with this situation.
It is unacceptable to allow a British citizen to be murdered out there.
This will be a test of our confidence in the British government.

Richard, London, UK

Isn't it a bit of a stretch for the atheists to jump into this discussion and condemn all religion? That's like blaming all blacks for the autrocities of Idi Amin, of unhappy memory; or blaming all Russians the autrocities of Stalin--who, by the way was an atheist, as--I believe--was Paul Pot..

Somehow I do not find all sorts of Christian teachers calling for vengeance against Muslim populations. Not all Muslims are the same either, but that religion at the moment seems to have a disproportionate number of extremists.

Treating all the same in spite of differing actions is manifest injustice.

Ted, Surrey, Canada

I've seen it in our schools...Could the kids have done it to get teacher in trouble???

Richard, London, UK

More and more Islamic leaders seem to make their people lose reason, a valuable tool in working toward a peaceful earth society. I am proud to have been raised Christian for i now know how to turn the other cheek and continue forward with compassion instead of getting violent over teddy bears. But some day soon, i fear, Islam shall finally awake the lion and sorrowfully reap their prideful folly.

chris , flagstaff, AZ

I think we have to accept that this is a clash of civilisations and that its not going to get any better. We must fight this evil by all means possible...

Mind you its wasnt so long ago certain Germans would have shot you in the head for being rude about old Adolf so I think we "civilised" Europeans need to be a little cautious in our condemnation.

Ronnie Duggan, Cambridge,

Events such as this one often escalate and take on sinister implications. our Uk Government must make it absolutely clear that no good will come of governments who operate a two tier system of justice.
Please can all Sudanese people living in this country and elsewhere stand up and voice their opposition to the reaction of these fanatically driven MEN.
Let Muslims living in this country and elsewhere rise up and denounce the activities of the Imams who are preaching hate for their guardians and benefactors, ie the West. If we don't stand up to protect human decency ,there will be only one outcome for this sort of behaviour: we will end up with war in our own backyard.

Mel, Brighton,

Mrs Gibbons has only 10 days or so to serve in custody. She will then be freed. So what is all this nonsense about gunboat diplomacy. The judge in Mrs Gibbons' case has given her a token sentence for conduct that many people in that country consider a serious offence. There is an often quoted British saying, which Mrs Gibbons failed to heed, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

If you want to shout about injustice, then what about the case of Colin Stagg, an innocent British man who was arrested, "fitted up" by the British police and locked up for months for a crime he did not commit.

And what about the innocent Jean Charles de Menezes who was shot 7 times in the head by British police while being restrained - and no one is to blame.

As the bible says, "first cast the beam from your own eye"

John, Liverpool,

This story has also been getting coverage in America, as you may well imagine, and today alone, on the website of the San Francisco Chronicle, there have been reader commentaries totalling well above 600. Americans, if the postings are any indication, are equally if not more incensed by the outrageous treatment of Ms Gibbons by the Sudanese muslims. Many here are also calling for immediate disolution of any and all aid programs in that region, and nearly as many are demanding military intervention. For any who are interested, the website address is: www.SFGate.com

Daniel, Kansas City, USA

This is not about Gillian. This is not about a teddy bear. This is fundamentally about Africans against "the colonials", about black against white, and Islam is the vehicle.

Susan, Victoria,

The demonstrating Muslims in Sudan are in the class as the Baptist church members here in the US who picket at the funerals of American servicemen killed in Iraq because "God hates homosexuals". Isn't religion great ? This is why I'm an atheist.

Kingfish, New York, USA

As a gay man Lord Ahmed is very brave to travel to Sudan.
It is very likely that he will be arrested for his sins against Sharia.

A D, London,

I think this kind of punishment is very extreme. This poor teacher made an innocent mistake. She should atleast be let go to go back home where she will be safe.
I thought Islam taught love and forgiveness. Jesus did. He said may the one person who is without sin cast the first stone. He taught that we should all forgive others who sin against us. Sounds to me like many of those Muslims like to invoke trouble. Even they need to learn to forgive, especially if it wasn't on purpose.

J. Chiviss, Athens, Michigan, USA

Now that Ms Gibbons has received a criminal record will she be able to teach in a British school - assuming she is offered a position?

SF, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

"Religion is the enemy of God"

Martin Buber

A D, London, uk

While Ms. Gibbons' imprisonment does seem to be motivated more by politics than justice, I can't help but wonder about the other 1,199 women in this 200 person prison. How many of them are serving a punishment to fit their crime?

Emily, St. Paul, USA

This is outrageous intolerance in action. How can Islam be considered anything but a reactionary spoiled child like religion when such examples are seen again and again. Pull aid from these governments and see if they are still so intolerant. Maybe they should live in insolation created by their intolerance of others.

Bill, Everett, USA/WA

I am an African-American and I think the death threats and jailing of Ms Gibbons is insane. I pray for Ms Gibbons safe return back home to her family. My heart and prayers are with Ms Gibbons and her family.

I also think that aid should be cut off from these people. Why support people who have such intense hatred? If Europe or the US needed aid from these kind of people do you really think that they would help us?

Letha Payne, Chicago, Illinois

The poor woman has done nothing wrong! This isn't even a case of "she should have known better". The kind of Muslims I grew up with probably did name their Teddy bears Mohamed, and this was not considered insulting. The world community needs to make clear that a) this is sort of violent reaction, both by the Sudanese authorities against poor Mrs Gibbons and the street protestors and b) this level of backward, literalist religious thinking are unacceptable.

She certainly has my sympathy.

Emma, New York City,

I trust the teddy bear is OK and being looked after.

Robert, Edinburgh,

As a Muslim I feel so ashamed. Why can they have mercy on this poor woman? So she made an error in judgement, BIG DEAL! I just hope she can get free and back to her family as soon as possible. This is ridiculous.

Yasmine, Ontario, Canada

"Muhammed" is a common name for men in Sudan, so what's wrong with naming a teddy bear the same? At the very least, the bear would bring joys to the childen, whereas, the men who can have the "secred" name Muhammed in this country may do far worst things to their fellow human beings, in the name of THEIR God. Muslim can worship whatever God they choose, but must not try to force their believes down our throats. Nor should we take it laying down.

Wyndi, Duluth, USA

First off let me tell you i am 15 years old, you might think my age means i am too young to understand this story. I'm not.If people get threatened with death over naming a teddy bear a name, then whatever created us should strike us down for ignorance. Religion is part of people's culture, i understand that, and it's right for us to respect people's beliefs. I am against racism, i even get jeered at because of it .But this whole act is cruel. A name is just a name. You think Mohamed would've thought this humane? He's thier prophet, okay. But it was a mistake, i thought religion was about on holiness, second chances and all that stuff. People are people for thier personalities, not for thier names! She made a mistake. Hey, i'll call someone Jerry, mistaking them thier name. Do you wanna have me killed? She's not of your religion, she doesn't know the rules. Death over a teddy bear? Open your eyes! A life isn't worth a mistake! This world is wallowing in chaos!! This is what causes war!

Ffion Elizabeth Rawsthorne, Monmouth, UK

As a teacher of 21 years, I find this conviction and
punishment to be absolutely ludicrous. What was
an innocent project on the part of the teacher and
a fun one for the children, has been blown way out of proportion by the government. of Sudan.

I have done this very same project with my class where we chose a name for a teddy bear and the children got to bring it home and write journal entries.

I spoke to my class of third graders today and they were all shocked that such a thing could happen to a well meaning teacher. Sudan is making a scape goat of this teacher. Shame on Sudan!!

Enid Natkins, Jackson Heights, USA/New York

Although we should respect laws of other countries and I stand by the fact that we cannot impose our justice system on theirs, I do not think a law that could have severely punished a woman for calling a teddy bear Mohamed is justifiable, it is my eyes a heinous law

I am also once again alarmed by the "thousands" of Islam protesters calling for Gillians execution. I doubt very much that has a similar episode occured in England, even those most offended would hardly take to the streets with their pitchforks...

Nor do i feel stopping all aid to Sudan is the answer either, the actions of a few cannot represent the feeling of the many.

Sarah, Guildford, UK

Could've been worse. At least it wasn't named "Kitchener" or "Gordon."

Or worse yet - imagine if she'd said that the bear was related to Winnie-the-Pooh. (!)

The mind boggles...

Chris, Sterling, Virginia USA

Hardly suprising that the Sudanese dictatorship would create a frenzy over a teddy bear and wrap it up in cultural and religious rhetoric to divert attention from the genocide that has been going on in Darfur.

victoria, Toledo , OH

The way this thing is going, in a couple of decades people who are not muslims will be accused of 'inciting hatred against Islam' for being non-believers. The world need to unite and stand firmly against these lunatics. why don't they cleanse their own societies of un-islamic deeds such as the rape and sexual abuse of women and young boys from sudan to Pakistan first? and then worry about stupid stuff like this later.

Elsa, Washington, DC

Something forgotten here; there are two different religious groups in Sudan. And its the other lot who've got most of the oil - which, if the country continues as it is, will only be used to prop up Khartoum.

Maybe George Bush split up the wrong country...

rbc, Kamloops, CANADA

All those that protested "chanting to kill her" should be rounded up and put in prison. These are the extremists that everybody is talking about (but doing nthing about) that are giving the Muslims a bad rap. Also they seemed to be pretty agitated after coming out of a mosque, so something happened in there that created this "Death to the teacher" attitude. Maybe the muslim people in general (this seems to be asking to much because when things like this happen they all evaporate and are silent) should be asking for this Imam to step down from this mosque as I see he's obviuosly not spreading the proper word about the muslim faith.
As for the country Sudan and the rest of Africa, Yes they need are help but it really makes you re-think if it's all worth it!

Garry, Winnipeg, Canada

What I want to know is what happened to the Teddy Bear? Has he recieved a public beheading, 40 lashes or incarceration in a cell with 40 other naughty teddy bears?

Long live Islam, the world is going to be such fun when you are the majority!!

adrian, aldershot, uk

"Islam is a religion based on peace."

At what price does this peace come? The beheading of a woman who in her heart tried to do good, to teach young children?

After all, this isn't the first time that execution has been called for because of depictions of the prophet. Anyone for a Danish?

I believe - in line with most of the comments - that this hatred in Sudan is being caused by people craving power through faith, poisoning the idea that Islam is peace by planting the seed that anything that insults Islam is evil, and must be destroyed. This is hallmark power-grabbing. Controlling the masses via religion to gain personal power. Kill the unbeliever, save the way of life. It's wrong, and an innocent woman is most likely going to get punished badly for it.

At least if she is to be sentenced, let her return to the UK to face her jail time here. If she has received this kind of reception by the Sudanese public, I cannot imagine what sort of treatment she will get in a Sudanese jail.

Darren Pinder, Cheltenham, United Kingdom

I wish to clarify that this is not a representation of islam..the fact that a few hundred showed up for the demo in a city of millions explains that...am a muslim and i find this as ridicilous as any of you here...the sudanese govt has far more issues to deal with..darfur.north-south rift and rebels...than waste their time on this nonsense over a teddy bear...
please dont use this incident to lump all of us together...we are outraged and this is too much for us muslims to bear..my faith has been hijacked by a few extremist zealots...i am sure those neocons and right wingers are having a field day over this to stereotype all of us...

Mohamud, Bagram , Afghanistan

If we stop aid, China will fill the breach. But we must resist Islamo-fascism wherever it appears. The West is under attack

Tony, Hull, UK

I wonder what all the othe other 2000 women in the Obdurman women's prison have done. Our TEnglish Teddy teacher hasn't got to put up with the awful conditions there for long, and is probably fairly comfortable at the moment. But I feel very sorry for all those imprisoned Sudanese women still in prison, 20-30 to a cell. Having a United Nations doesn't seem to have done much good.

Kathleen Kidd, tonneins, France

Roy Stone - there are people here in the USA who have ranches on the border who want to shoot illegal immigrants from Mexico because of the damage they cause. The same argument can be made in regards to slavery in the old south. Should we leave them alone because it is wrong to meddle with their "culture"? Their culture - such as it is - is older than the founding of this country. It is still inconsistent with any attempt at modern beliefs and social norms.

Tom, Chicago, USA

In Islam, too, as in Judaism and Christianity, "bearing false witness" is a sin. This woman was naive, but she wasn't denigrating Islam, and of course Mohammed, is not himself God, only a messenger in Islam. So the threatening demo by angry young men after prayers was a silly but vicious bit of theatrics - and a case of "bearing false witness". It is perfectly possible to be a "cultural Muslim" in that you follow the Five Pillars of Islam (Profession of faith, prayers, charity, keeping Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca) AND be Western-educated, as Lord Ahmed will no doubt tell the Sudanese. And given that they are not exactly covering themselves in glory in Darfur, especially in their treatment of women - their angry triumphalism is bad, but so is ours.
I am not a Muslim, but was married to one (a cultural Muslim but otherwise secular, western-educated person, 30 years ago). Our cultural differences were more interesting than frightening. We both learned from it.

Julia Iskandar, London, England

I truly hope and pray that this woman can be safely extradited to Britain. May everyone concerned with her welfare be given full support. A truly shocking and terrifying ordeal.

Karen, Adelaide, Australia

If Sudan "muslim rule"can hold a well meaning teacher accountable for a missunderstanding; then what will be Mohammed's punishment for Darfur?
An eye, a tooth, or much more?

Bob, Millington / NJ, USA / USA

I'm beginning to wonder what has made a difference. i started to visit the UK nearly a decade ago. Then political correctness ruled. i was shushed and ankle kicked if I ever mentioned the primitive intolerance of Islam. There has been a change in the tide, i think it is might be a www thing. It is hard to bury the truth online

Geoffrey, Sydney,

Unless Britain takes step to curtail the Islamic onslaught, get used to these pictures. This will soon be London.

Religious sensitivites should be damned when they are used as an excuse to justify such behaviour. Quit being so damned sensitive to people's religious feelings and get control or your country.

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

From 106 comments I can "t recall any muslims saying
" what is wrong with naming a teddy mohammed.
Why? Because the Sudanese are applying islam correctly.
The problem is not the fundamentalists but islam itself

monty, adelaide, australia

Thank heavens it was only a bear, imagine if it had been a GI Joe doll...

Angus, Paris, France

There is no need to ridicule Islam, its followers do such a magnificent job themselves.

Alan Lewis, Bangkok,

Firstly, during this season of goodwill to all men/women, I would like to wish the world a Merry Christmas - oops, sorry, is Christmas still allowed???

Personally, I am sick to death of all these radical, extremist fanatics trying to change my home country, England, and the rest of the western world into their idea of what's right. We welcome all to our country - although I challenge the wisdom of this, and have done so for far too long now - and we have to pander to the beliefs/religions/whatever, that these people import with them. NO MORE. Send in the SAS to retrieve this woman, who will be a martyr should the situation, God forbid, escalate. Yes we should respect the laws of which ever land we are in, WITHIN REASON, and this situation, to any rational person, certainly is not. I want the England of my youth, with carol concerts, nativity plays performed by 5 year olds, people greeting each other and wishing one another a Merry Christmas.

Coleen, Arizona, USA

They can change the name of the bear to Jesus or King David and be a proud bear..

llcrabbe, glendale, az

Dave and others....

Your point to isolate islam and retreat ourselfs from this part of barbaric world would seem sensible. The West in fact has ignored this religion & culture for centuries.

The problem is oil. Not particulary Sudan but the middle east in general. This region holds 83% of oil reserves. Oil runs US economy. US runs the world. Without oil or US economy the West would disintegrate into uselessness.

So isolation is not an option. At best the West can do is prop up quasi democratic regimes such as Saudi Arabia and try to coexist peacefully with eachother for another 50 years, until oil dries up or we find alternative fuel source.

JRL, SF Bay, USA

I just hope that Yusuf Islam has no immediate plans to travel to Sudan for a music concert

Cam Luong, Manchester, England

Muslims are getting themselves a bad reputation around the globe. They allow their 'religion' to be used as an excuse for criminal acts of their members, and to go on an excited rampage in which they release the tension associated with the terminal hopelessness of waiting for heaven, instead of addressing the concerns of this life.

It may already be too late to define important categories such as "moderate Muslim", as we just don't have two lifetimes to sort through their nonsense.

Stop Muslim immigration, and avoid their existing neighborhoods. Refuse to do business with Muslim shopkeepers who wear veils, hoods and cover ups. Don't fly on airlines which help you have a relaxed flight by informing you the death penalty applies for drugs your assumed to be carrying. Name your Teddy anything you like, and be proud.

Phil Colquitt, New Farm, Australia

If I was Ms Gibbons, I would serve my sentence in full, because the longer she is there the more ridiculous the authorities look. Little is spoken of the women who defend themselves against rape and get sentenced to death.
The Sudan is in grave need of wholesale condemnation by the Islamic world generally and thankfully they are getting it,
but it is done so politely as to be almost approval.

Peter, Reading, uk.

Love yor TEDDY

jim iles, twickenham / london, england

The Sudanese government is caught between the iron and hard plate. In my opinion, they tried to satisfy both sides of the controversy.
I wouldn't even blame the mobs. If anyone to blame, it is the religious cleriks. Those are the influtinal people that incite this kind of reaction from the mobs. Haven't we noiced yet the common denomincator of angry demonstrations and mobs ? it is always after the Friday prayer. It is because of the cleriks firy speeches that drive these mobs insane and they take to the street. I wonder if the cleriks tried to play down the incdient and preached tolernacen and forgiveness during the Friday prayer, would there have been the same reaction from the mobs ??

Samy Boulos, Toronto, Canada

I would blame neither the government nor the angry mobs. Since the government tried to satisfy both sides of the controversy, and the angry mobs are derived by their lack of reasoning and almost illiteracy.
If anyone to blame, it is the religious clerics. Those are the influential people that incite this kind of reaction from the mobs. Haven't we noticed yet the common denominator of angry demonstrations and mobs? It is always after Friday prayers. It happens in every Muslim country, that whenever there is a religious controversy, angry fiery mobs take to the streets after the Friday prayers. Is that a coincidence?
It is because of the clerics fiery speeches that drive these mobs insane. I wonder if the clerics tried to play down the incident and preached tolerance and forgiveness during the Friday prayer, would there have been still the same reaction from the mobs??
Islam’s image will always be tarnished as long as there are those who teach violence, hatred and intolerance.

Samy Boulos, Toronto, Canada

its a shame that we are not looking at this objectively. how can we be so blind as to see the same thing happening in other countries and not realize that we are all the same - experiencing the hate inspiring propaganda aginst people just like us also experiencing hate propaganda. can we say that the jena 6 situation in usa is all that different from this? justice must be served - but why thru a dissenting perspective? is that really justice?

slickie, iugsefibu, ca

I'm thinking about calling my toilet mohamed...

Jack sheffield, london, uk

@ G. Skinner, Aberdeen, UK

Please dont compare our country to this, its clearly not the same. How many times do you see protests with bats and knifes in the UK over religous hatred? hmmmm, never?

Yes, she should of knew better. But that doesnt mean she did it on purpose. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. She has said sorry, thats all it should of taken. Thats all it would of taken here in the UK.

Nathan, UK, Leicestershire

And I'm supposed to respect Islam? Er......

Edwin Morris, Birghton, Sussex.,

And we give aid to these people? We should put our own people first and spend our taxes at home. End all aid to these people.

Angus, London,

How can Islam expect to be treated as a reasonable and tolerant faith when this sort of thing is performed by a national government in its name?

I am glad Lord Ahmed is going - this religion has to put its house in order itself.

Imagine anything like this being done if a teddy bear was named Jesus.

The argument that she didn't mean to cause offence is spurious. Even if she did mean to cause offence, any religion should be big enough and tolerant enough just to ignore such an offence

Arthur, Oxford,

I wish people would accept the decision of the Sudanese court; it is not for us to say that their laws and punishments are wrong.

Ben James, Manchester,

what is the big fuss about. the west wants to bring democracy and judicary independence to african and asian countries and when they are brave enough to do so the west starts protesting, making excuses like innocent mistake and cultural misunderstanding. a crime is a crime.

asad, birmingham,

Comic relief will have a hard task trying to convince us to help Sudan!

Rachel, Surrey, uk

Let's give a good cheer in support of Lord Ahmed - he's prepared to put his name and reputation on the line to try and end this sad story. Maybe on the way back he can drop in and visit the Pope; convince him to stop the Catholic Church from discouraging condom use. Goodness knows how many AIDS related deaths this misguided policy has caused around the world.

Richard James, London , UK

Let me respectfully suggest a subject for composition in Gibbons´s school:

"Take up the white man´s burden
and reap his old reward--
the blame of those ye better
the hate of those ye guard--
the cry of those ye humor
(ah, slowly) toward the light:
"Why brought ye us from bondage.
our loved Egyptian night?"

Comment upon the poem, both in its original setting and to the present day.
Has anything changed?
Why do you think they still send forth the best they breed?
Do you think they will go doing so?

Dearly as I would like to see the SAS in Khartoum, I do remember Gordon and the Mahdi--and Omdurman was not really a success, Churchill notwithstanding.

Ramlau, hirtshals, Denmark

I was very disappointed that Judiciary chose to bow down to political pressure of a few fundamentalist. It is a problem in many a theocracies pretending to be democracies. Typical of politicians to steer attention from problem of hunger and complicity in Janjaweed massacre by focussing attention on an "Outsider" and religion.

I think Ms Gibbons is a humanitarian and would be shocked at some of the responses here to stop aid to the starving. So what is the difference between religious fundamentalist there and bunch of reactionaries here.

P K Green, London, UK

Is Sudan trying to make itself look rediculous in front of the whole world.

Lets deport all Sudanese nationals from the UK and then declare all out war on them.

Francis, Birmingham, UK

I'm with Luke, get the boys from Hereford involved. Then let's sort out Zimbabwe.

Chris Phipps, Worthing,

Religion is the root of all evil in the world today.
Religion, not God, which is something completely different...

Gustavo, Los Angeles, USA / CA

Force is not an option (for those who have any knowledge of geography).

For those who still insist that Islam is a peaceful religion I can only repeat ISLAM IS AS ISLAM DOES, and it appears that barbarity is the order of the day.

Should one pity a religion with a God so weak that he cannot take care of himself in the matter of the naming of teddy bears?

Charles, Charlottesville,

Isn't it strange how these violent protests always seem to happen just after Friday prayers to their god.

zeno, Glasgow,

As an atheist I'm interested in all religions and like to think I have the same tolerance towards them all. However, I'm tired of hearing people say, 'Don't blame Islam it's a religion of peace, it 's the few fundamentalists who whip up the mob.' I understand that normal people cannot protest in the streets of Khartoum, not without being beheaded or stoned to death, but Muslims in Britain could take to the streets. Where are they?

Thalassa, quimper, france

What would have happened to this woman if she had done the very same thing in England and a Muslim parent had complained to the police? Anyone who believes the case would be treated any differently is clearly living in cloud cuckoo land. The only difference would be the punishment as at the moment we don’t behead or whip so called religious offenders, but just wait for the full impact of Nu Labours religious hatred laws to run their course and in a few more years I'm sure we will be. Evil prospers when good men stand by and do nothing.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

Let's be clear this is not all people who believe in God who are doing this, but one particularly extreme group of one particularly religion.

Hindus, Sikhs and Christians are not behaving in this way and I would be amazed if the vast majority of Muslims support what's going on in Sudan at the moment.

Don't use this as an excuse to tar everyone with the same brush. This appears to be politicially motivated-that's not religion but human beings yet again using religion for their own ends.

Stalin didn't need God to commit his atrocities did he?

Jill, Cheshire,

"one of my fears ... that this results in any sort of resentment towards Muslim people"

I fail to see how it could possibly not result in the resentment of muslims. They aren't exactly a shining light as it is.

JonB, Glasgow, UK

We should no longer help these animals. Let them rot in their own filth. They are a disgrace to the human race. The world would be a better place without them and any other nation that behaves in such a way.

My heart goes out to Gillian Gibbons who will hopefully remain strong throughout this unbelievable ordeal, its totally beyond comprehension.

Send in an extraction team and get her out of there now!!!!

Alan, London,

I think people should shut up now about this, and no appeals either. I looks like the judge has stuck his neck out for her and the police took care of her ok for 5 days already another 10 is doable, Intervention has more lethal potential than potential for benefit IMO

peter, limassol,

This is getting extremely ridiculous now!! This government really just needs to fly in and take her away before they kill her!! Is this how they repay her contribution of going into a country and trying to spread wisdom?? Seriously their government has to stop living in this barbaric era!!

J, leic, UK

One thing has been missed here. Are we sure the bear's name is really Mohammed? Maybe it already has a name, like Rupert for instance, making the choice of a second name irrelevant and probably invalid.

Adriana, jakarta, Indonesia

Why are we culturaly taught to respect the values of people who live in the dark ages over our own? I think my values and most of yours far superior to these people.

Martin Higgins, Bellshill,

Like Caesar before him, Muhammad started off as a man and has now become a God, about whom nothing can be said except in his praise.

Akbar, Cambridge, UK

Too right this will lead to resentment towards Muslims. If we have not already had enough of them, and are sick to the back teeth of their rhetoric. They then do something as outrageous as this.
Unfortunately, this government will do absoloutley nothing and hope the problem will go away.
I am sure the BNP would take a stronger stance.

Oi! The Spotters, St Albans, England

I can't see how we're meant to take these protesters seriously. Thousands of them calling for Gillian Gibbons's execution for an imagined insult to Islam, but these same people seem to have nothing to say when the reality of Darfur has been staring them in the face for years !

AG, London,

Lost for words, it's hard to imagine that any kind of rational discussion will make any impact on the Sudanese judgement. If they were rational this would necer have happened.

Sharon Knight, london, uk

Now, are we really, absolutely, beyond all reasonable doubt, incontrovertibly and indefatigably sure that Islam is this "religion of peace"?

Julian Cox, London, England

Re: When in Rome . . .

Whilst heartily agreeing with the broad sentiment the remainder of the comment distorts the facts of this particular situation to have an irrational rant.

The lady has done nothing wrong in the eyes of any reasonable person. The children chose the bears name after a popular boy in their class. Muslims call their children Mohammed. In many Catholic countries Jesus is a popular boy's name.

What next - everyone called Edward gets upset at the term "teddy bear"?

Some so-called Muslims really need to get a grip, grow a thicker skin and learn to laugh at themselves.

Tom, Edinburgh, UK

I'm very disappointed by this.

The Sudanese Government could easily difuse the situation, that is unless the British government is encouraging this to divert from current affairs at home?

Either way that poor lady needs to be freed immediately. If i were PM, i'd consider sending in the SAS to rescue her..

Gary, London,

And to think this repulsive scene took place in Martyrs Square. You couldn't make it up.

Bill, Berkeley, Ca

Given that Sudan is a particularly nasty and repressive dictatorship, one can only assume these "protesters" are there with the consent of the government.

William McIlhagga, Ilkley,

I feel that I have woken up on an alian planet. The reaction to the naming of the bear 'Mohamed' is unbelievable. I hope that the British government will on this occaision react appropriately and not roll over with their legs in the air as usual.

D James, Cardiff, Wales

Utterly incomprehensible. No analysis required. Creating an argument against this judgement merely adds credibility to the whole shameful situation.

Once Gillian is back safe and sound in a sane part of the world, the UK government should cease to recognise or communicate in anyway with the nation that allowed this to pass.
Utterly Incomprehensible

David Hammett, Edinburgh, Scotland

muslims a peac lvoing religion - yet they are armed with clubs and knives... The religion is joke.

Gurbachan Singh, Bedford,

I don't think that 15 days is an unfiar punishment for this breach of Islamic law, it is difficult to think that an informed and educated person would not know of the great upset caused when a westerner creates an image of Mohammed. Lets fact it she has already served about half the sentance anyway.

In addition we expect Muslims to respect our laws and culture when in our country, some of our politicians boasted about asking muslim women to take off their burkas, which is probably quite offensive to many too.

We, in Britian, are at risk of over the top reactions to these situations in the same way as the Muslims over react by taking to the streets brandishing clubs and knives.

Do we not want all our foreign criminals deported after thier sentance too?

Incidentally I am neither Christian nor Muslim.

G. Skinner, Aberdeen, UK

NEVER go to a predominant muslim country thinking there is anything close to fairness or equality. Non-muslims are "dhimmi", or underclass people. Many feel no remorse in taking advantage of infidels, as they feel it is mandated as acceptable in the advancement if Islam by the more radical among them.
Sudan is actually more progressive than, say, Saudi Arabia, where women are property, and are treated as such.
Fundamentalist Extremism in any religion is a disease. Kudos to those muslims out there with the courage to be offended by this.

fester, detroit, michigan

Whatever happend to gunboat diplomacy?! It is completely outrageous that the British Government are taking the softly softly approach with a regime who's moral code is stuck in the middle ages.

Has anyone else pondered the irony of the recent BBC scandle involving the naming of a pet cat? There are clearly very different value systems at work.

nsmith, london,

This is beyond disgrace. this poor lady has gone out to a foreign community and offered her teaching to help the assumingly deprived children and this is the way they treat her, Gillian is being up to dry in a socerit with cares nothing for human life. surely its time for Britian to step in and rescue her.

Craig Farrow, Southampton,

"after being convicted of inciting religious hatred " & "escaped conviction on a more serious charge of inciting hatred"

So which is it ?

David, London,

So children can be called Mohammed, but teddys can't...

Duncan McLaren, Edinburgh, Scotland

Luke is right. Civilized people also have a duty....not to be so ridiculously 'sensitive' about other people's behavior--and certainly not to tolerate threats by a mob because of such a totally minimal behavior by a person. Even worse, she chose to go there to help them. Perhaps that is the real key--How DARE you try to actually teach chidlren. They might learn something, and then where would the Islamic clerics be? And, perhaps i am not adequately politicaly correct..but if the ambassadorial avenues fail to achieve results, then cutting off aid and/or using....other methods...to secure her safety and freedom would be entirely reasonable.

Stan, Texarkana, Texas/USA

The Sudanese ambassador should be dragged in and told that there will be no more aid of any kind to that corrupt regime until a full apology is sent to the teacher .
Mad crowds of muslims our citizens do not need.......no give and take......NO AID !!........leave that government to the rebels !!

Hamish Morrison, Inverness, Scotland

I thought Allah was supposed to be merciful? Clearly someone is twisting religion. What religion is worth the death of one person? I am boycotting any Sudan goods in the supermarkets.

Paul Davis, York, uk

What a sick culture. . .

We should isolate ourselves from these middle eastern extremists and permit them to perpetrate these atrocities on each other until they come to their senses and free themselves.

Ray, Palm Springs, California, USA

We are, I believe, in the 21st century, a time in mankind's evolution where we should be at peace with ourselves and advancing human knowledge in medicine, the arts and all things good, and yet here we are again, looking at the rantings of a mob who would like to see us all back in the dark ages, praying to a god of dubious existance five times a day and living in fear and ignorance.
It's time to move on, spend our taxes on our own people and leave these countries to rot in their own personally created dark age.

Dave, Madison,

The religion of peace shows its true colours yet again. Everywhere islam takes hold, human rights seem to go out of the window. How much longer are we going to have to listen to nonsense from policiticians about how "the true islam" is a good, decent and peaceful thing?

Ask yourself this: why does islam not respect the universal declaration of human rights, but instead, need its own? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Declaration_on_Human_Rights_in_Islam]

Vigilance is needed - the creeping influence of this terrible ideology has to be resisted.

Nick, Rotherham, UK

The world has gone mad. Any excuse for blood seems reasonable to some people and religion is just an excuse for mindless violence and bloodshed, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan.

Please can the people of the world just get over religion, conflict, murder and injustice - all of which seem to be synonymous.

We are one people with a common existence, why can nobody see this?

If we cannot live together with our religious views - and let me remind everyone who has a religious faith that we all practice a view of peace and forgiveness - then let us live without them and abolish religion on a worldwide scale.

Phil, London,

Religion continues to demonstrate itself to be utterly ridiculous, clung pathetically to by those incapable of grasping mortality and reality, whilst terrifyingly allowing the vicious, mentally unstable to use it in whichever way they can to perform medieval witch hunts such as this.

Helen, Surrey,

All Western governments should stop all Funding to this regime, as well as withdraw all representation and order there people out of our Countries, its about time the West showed courage and stop all this lunacy

George Edward Levecque, Fergus, Canada/Ontario

The SAS or a similar unit should save her.

Abhijit Pandya, Williamson, UK

Please don't tar all religions or people of faith with the same brush. It is not God that comes up with this ridiculous and barbaric claptrap. It is humans that willfully misinterpret religious writings or guidance for their own ends.

I thank God that I live in a Christian country where if children called a teddy bear Jesus the most we would do is say "aaaahhh bless" and leave it at that.

Jan, Guildford,

This story saddens me. I am always defending Islam to my friends back here who have no experience of Islam or have any Islamic friends. I always tell them that they are people just like everyone else, and I have never met an Islamic person who would want to hurt another. We must remember that we are dealing with extremists here, and by definition does not represent the Islamic people as a whole. Having said that, however, the British population will not see that, and will simply believe that all Islamic people are the same. I am worried that this could have serious consequences for minorities in the UK, and the phrase 'shoot yourself in the foot' comes to mind...
Why can't we all just get along........

Daniel Honeywell, Leeds, Yorkshire

How exactly is allowing a child to name a teddy bear "inciting religious hatred"? How backwards is the Sudan? Thank goodness we live in a civilized country!

Julian, manchester, uk

A valid point can be made about understanding another countries culture and laws before going to work there.
Or we could cease all aid to Sudan as recognition for their abhorrent tratment of a british citezen. Khartoum may rethink their decision.

AG, Birmingham,

Would a teacher in a British school allow students to name a teddy bear "Jesus"?

Arik Silverman, Milwaukee, USA

Interesting isn't it... the protestors "emerged from the Mosques" after Friday prayers to call for Ms Gibbon's execution. No doubt they had been incited to do so by the Mosques preachers and leaders.

Hopefully these events will acts as a reminder to us in the West of the true nature of Islam as it is practised throughout much of the Islamic world... intolerant, barbaric and without compassion. I for one am not convinced by the MCB or others who tell me that Islam is a religion of peace, when so much of the evidence points in the opposite direction.

Andrew brown, derby, UK

I feel very sorry for this teacher who must be quaking in her shoes at all these extremists baying for her blood, and why are they, because it wasn't her decision to call the teddy Mohammed after all. The children chose it. The Sudanese government are obviously looking for a fight! They are nothing but fanatics and no more money should be handed to this God forsaken country - just why do we send them and other no good African despots millions of tax payers money? And if Gordon Brown gets his way there will be even more going to Africa! Stop world aid, except to countries where they have climate catastrophes and starvation - let them go to Saudi Arabia where they have plenty to spare! I hope this is a lesson to people to avoid the Sudan like the plague!!

wooram, Alicante, Spain

I gather that the leader of the BNP was recently stopped from speaking at the Oxford Union because of racist remarks that Islam is vicious and cruel.
Er .. doesn't he have a point?
(I am a Buddhist)

Max , London,

I think we should send in the Royal Marines to get here out and teach these people some respect.

Rob, Derby, UK

This is shocking... Is Islam really this evil??

Adam Webb, MK, UK

Is this what they mean when it's claimed "Islam means peace"?

Matt, London,

How Ironic that after friday prayers these men are filled with such hatred they want to kill this poor lady. Surely if Allah and Islam is, as everyone keeps trying to defend it, a peaceful religion- this would not happen

This is complete evil and absolute madness!

So, its so bad to call a teddy Muhammad, but it acceptable to kill someone for doing so?!!

Do these people have nothing between their ears?!

The British government need to do a Jack Baur and rescue her now

COMPLETE MADNESS!!!

rr, London,

Again, this is an example of poitics being disguised as a religious issue. There is strong anti-British sentiment in less developed Muslim countries, despite the UK being incredibly tolerant to Islam. It's nothing to do with religion, it's about showing power over British officials, who are in this situation as they have shown their weakness - which is being too politically correct and afraid to speak out about ludicrious and unethical behaviour.

jane, Sharjah, UAE

Those few hours after Friday prayers are always rather disturbing. What do the Imams say, to get the boys so upset?

chaplain, canterbury, Kent

Pathetic!

Nathan, UK,

We must cut off all aid immediately.

Gordon Perrygrove, Birmingham.,

I feel like I'm missing something obvious here but Mohammed, however it is spell, is an extremely common name for many people through the world, such as Mohammed Alfied and Mohammed Ali. As such why couldn't the children call it as such?

I guess the issue is, was the teddy named 'the prophet mohammed' or was it just mohemmed?

rebecca, northampton, uk

One really has to love the Religion of Peace. I wonder if the UN Commision on Women's rights will help out.?

Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Tx

Friday "prayers". Never seems to be much praying involved.

Ellen Morris, Leeds,

I think that shows just how much we fail to understand these people. Pretending that Islam is a religion of "peace" is just hiding our heads under the sand,.
Our appeasment hasn't worked, it's time to admit it, pretending that we all share the same values is just turning our heads away from these problems. There are people in these countries who undergo this sort of treatment every single minute and we does nothing at all to stop it.
This is really going way too far, the west must stand firm on these matters, human rights must be respected. We can no longer accept to be blackmailed by certain people

Ross, Milan,

Moral of the story?

Watch your mouth - the world is becoming very thin-skinned indeed...

Sanjay, Delhi,

Are they trying to blackmail some more aid from the Brits? Stop all aid now - I don't want any of my taxes to go to such people, and threaten them with a full trade embargo - and see if, for once we can get the EU to agree to the same, if they don't release her immediatelly. I have heard lots of rubbish in my life from all faiths but this takes the prize.

Bob, Cowes, UK

I won't ever contribute a penny to any calamity in an Islamic country... I won't buy any product from a Muslim country. I refuse to shop in stores where women are wearing the Hijab... And I call all rational human beings to do the same!

Pastaneta, NYC, USA

The Sudanese government should take a good look at what is happening here, they are obviously not running the show. It's shamefull the way they have treated this woman. She came to their country to teach their children. They have treated her appallingly for a very small mistake. If i was a muslim, seeing my people treat a good person this way I would be ashamed.

Maybe we should take a leaf out of sudanese governments book when dealing with foreign criminals in our own country.
We should round a up all foreign, muslim offenders (regardless of how small their crime may be) and deport them back to their country of origin. After all whats good for the goose....

There is lesson here for Mr Brown and the British judiciary, lets hope they see it!!

Kelly, london, uk

I assume that all of the children will also be arrested and severley punished, since it was they who actually named the teddy. And presumably the parents of the child named Mohammed have been stoned to death as naming a child after the prophet must be a very serious crime. If you didn't know this had actually happened, you'd guess it was just a very sick joke.

John Ralph, Worcester,

The crime was inciting religious hatred. Well, I hope the so called judge understands the hatred he has incited in finding Mrs. Gibbons guilty. If calling a children's teddy bear Mohammad is a crime against Islam then it shows you just how conceptually bankrupt this religion is. However, it would seem the massacre of their own in Darfur does not warrant action from the Sharia Court. What a sad joke.

John, London, UK

The British Government must withdraw all aid to Sudan immediately.

It is clear that Sudan is heavily influenced, if not ruled, by the Islamic extremists...why should our hard-earned Taxes be spent on such people?

Whilst foreign aid should not have "strings" attached that dictate how the beneficiary Country should live, we have to draw a line somewhere. Sudan has crossed that line, we should just leave them to wallow in the Middle Ages.

John Robinson, Thetford, UK

"Everyone has been very nice, but one of my fears, and I imagine my mother’s also, will be that this results in any sort of resentment towards Muslim people."

This is what worries her son??

Marie, Chicago , IL USA

I think anyone in their right mind would stop and think before letting the situation get this far... how much longer until our government does something about it ?! religion, politics and stupidity are a lethal mix...
As for any future Sudan appeal funds, they can wait for them...sitting down !!!

Francisco, London,

Why not tell them what you think ?
Contact the embassy at
http://sudan-embassy.co.uk/

Francisco, London,

I am sorry, that the people of Islam faith has not grown up yet to be a human. If these fhousands of them are any example, we as a human race have long way to go to be realy human.

Ven, Monroe,

Strange bunch these clerics, don't seem to concerned about genocide, slavery, random acts of ethnic cleansing, a corrupt government and the odd famine.

But do something that dosen't affect anyone in any possible way (like naming an inanimate object) and it time to take to the streets.

M Jone, London, England

Sad, sad little men.

Explain to me again why I'm suppposed to respect people who believe in God(s)

Pedro C, Maidstone, Kent

Is it me, or is it acceptable to have extreme views if you are of one particular religious persuasion, but if you hold any other beliefs (or hold none at all), you are a heretical criminal who it is reasonable to kill?

Isn't it time this country started to stand up for it's culture and beliefs rather than constantly bowing and scraping to those who want to bring '1984' to life, but with the Ministry of Truth being 'The Ministry of Thought' (or should that be religious bigotry?)

Chris, Portsmouth,

How sick can a nation be. A simple mistake made by a women who was helping them to learn English and people are asking for her to be shot. All English people should leave the country and let them get on with it. Muslims are meant to have compassion but yet again we see how uncompassionate they are, even the English muslims are saying how wrong it is to treat this women like this, and to be honest it's about time they showed some sense. I'm fed up with seeing marche