"Many British people commenting have shown such hatred towards their Islamic religion"

This comment disgusts me. It's a repeating pattern.

The civilised world is entitled to get angry, condemn, and not tolerate intolerant primitive violence, in just the same way we did that with Hitler.

And we are entitled to that, without hearing Muslims accuse of some kind of foul play like no one can condemn anything and no one is better than anyone else. I'm afraid that is not true - and this recent case has shown once again why that is so.

Joe, Manchester,

Now we have two percent population who is muslim , and some of them are already asking for sharia law.. I would like to ask my fellow countrymen what would happen when this figure reaches twenty percent.. all the facts indicates that way only...

sam, london,

Having read the view back, I apologise fpr the many grammatical errors. My bad

Louise, Leeds, England

I have read quite a bit on this story. It seems the real anger started when the teacher collected all the children's writing and made it into a book and called it, "The Book of Mohammed" I can see why some of the parents might have been offended and how this got blown out of proportion.

But this detail of the "book of Mohammed" gets left out of many articles. It seems that both sides are guilty of fannning the flames of cultural racism for their own ends.

Gary Martin, Taipei, Taiwan

Ben, Hindhead

woah woah woah, surely the Christian religion believes in 'love thy neighbour'? My family are highly religious and in a way I am embarrassed Ithat I am not. I completely respect my family for their beliefs bit feel I cannot agree. I don't think being s Scientist helps! However, my family would certainly not be ashamed should I name a teddy bear 'Jesus' and they would certainly not have me arrested. Read the Bible.

Louise, Leeds, England

Mr Henry

I agree completely . We should all do as much as we can. No matter how small it may seem at the time: our minor generosity can mean so much to others

Lou

Louise, Leeds, England

I never meant to disrespect muslims or your beliefs. Why are you scared about being disrespected? Surely I would get my come-upance either way?

Louise, Leeds, England

Now that Mrs. Gibbons is thankfully out, it's time to stop the pandering towards the Sudan regime. Let's remember that these are the guys who have created the worst genocide in Africa - it's a murderous regime and is an appalling blot on the planet. Our troops were supposed to be in there protecting the people of Darfur- unfortunately the UN took fright because it was politically incorrect to criticise an African despot. Double standards, indeed. Regrettably this thuggish regime is encouraged by financing from the British Government - Labour's choice of friends is quite amazing.

Doug, Glasgow,

This is what these countries do to the people that want to help them. We should withdraw all aid and links with the country. There is no helping them when they wont help themselves.

Luke, Reaidng,

I'm shocked to read so many horrible remarks about the muslim world and Africa. How can we in England speaks about giving up help to poor country, especially Africa. What happen in that case is just poor mass judgment and poor reaction to acts done by some fundamentalists.
It is not the poor and persecuted population of Africa such as in Darfur to pay of this misunderstanding. Those poor people have nothing to do with this minor problem.
We should not forget the age of colony where England, France and other made their fortune on those countries. We have a debt to pay and such a little incident should not allow people and even more the PRESS to publish DIATRIBES against all the poor of the world.
We could do better from this lesson that publishing some pusillanimous remarks about how bad is a religion. Teddy bear still the same, the teacher is safe, and lets be intelligent and not forget all the poor one who died of hunger and diseases every day.

jerome henry, london,

It will be interesting to see what she has to say on her return to Britain - she may well be another Norman Kember.
One good thing to come out of this incident is that it provided an opportunity for British Muslims to stand up and be counted - to their credit, it seems that a substantial number did so.

William Smith, Cape Town,

One should respect all different religions and and not criticise At least the Muslims honour/respect there Prophet and religion. In fact all countries have there laws and you must obey and respect it. The teacher should be told about the laws/rules of the country and must leave if she does not accept it. Any individual must have respect for others and there way of life. Why is it always Islam that people attack . Can only come to the conclusion that people are jealous of Islam and want to destroy it.

fahima, Cape Town, South Africa

I am thouroughly disgusted at the actions of our british politicians in Sudan Pleading for this stupid womans release.

She broke the law in a foreign country and should pay the penalty. She would not have allowed a teddy bear to have been named Christ in this country!

I am full of the utmost respect and admiration for the Sudanese people who have such passion and loyalty to their beliefs and Islam who were rightly outraged by her flagrant disrespect of their beliefs. I only wish that christians in this country when our beliefs are challenged and our faith disrespected would show such dedication!

She should be made to see out the remainder of her sentance feeling lucky that it could have been far worse.

Ben, Hindhead, UK

I am a British citizen with no contempt or hatred for any other race or religion. I am not religious but I treat others as I would like to be treated and would expect the same in return, regardless of anyone's views on my lifestyle etc. When will people realise that we don't all think the same way, we aren't all brought up with the same religious beliefs, and the multicultural nature of everyday life can be both interesting and rewarding. This lady was out there to promote multiculturalism and to show that non-muslims are caring and want to help. To be treated in this way for a simple lack of judgement is an outrage. It should have been resolved in a humane manner that showed her how and why this behaviour was perceived as offensive, whilst showing deserved respect. I was planning to teach abroad, to enlighten and engage with young people from other cultures, from who I could have learnt so much! I have had second thoughts.

Louise, Leeds, England

Great news that a pardon was granted. Does this mean that we have , as a nation, forgiven the Sudanese for their unlawful (according to several Muslim leaders in Britain naming the Teddy Bear Mohammed is not a crime in Islam !!) detention of a UK citizen ? Hope not.

This incident points out loud a clear that even Muslims do not agree on what constitutes a crime under sharia law. Is this not a farce ? Are their several versions of the Koran ? Or each nation, or indeed each Mullah is free to have his own interpretation ?

Mocho, London, U.K.

Our government is too soft. When will they truly stand up for thier own people? Its ridiculous how we have to send other muslims to convince muslims that this woman committed no crime or at least that she should be released.

We need a strong government.

Jo, Botlon, UK

Let this be a lesson to those who think that they're saving the world by going to uncivilised countries. This woman is very lucky to have got away with her life.

Judy , Liverpool, england

Let us now apply a zero tolerance to all Muslim acts. No more letting them get away with anything. After all, we are not allowed to make even an innocent mistake (is it a mistake to name a teddy any name at all?), so they should not be allowed to incite hatred against the British. Which is worse? Can it really be that the naming of the teddy is worse than the rantings and incitements of the likes of Abu Hamsa and others of his ilk?

Lucy, London, England

Britain is part of a much wider (world) multicultural community. UK has economic and financial business/trade partnership with many Islamic nations. Starting at the top with saudi arabia (oil). Many British people commenting have shown such hatred towards their Islamic religion. This will only encourage Muslim nations to cut their ties with UK and work with other countries. At the end of the day...who is the loser ?

These nations total 11,883,889 square miles (20.6% of the world's land area), 1.8 billion people (29% of the world's population), and US $4.3 trillion (uk £2.15 trillion) of GDP on a purchasing power parity basis (8.7% of the world's GDP). Total world trade with these nations adds to over US $800 billion (uk £400 billion). Military spending totals over US$60 billion. (wiki)

Jayil, london, uk

In a civilized country, none of this would have happened.

Eric, Austin,

We should be grateful to our new lords appointed by the labour government who went over there to plead for her return.
it looks good for britain in the islamic world when they see we have islamic lords running the country. it shows britian is a good place to come to for islam.

vic khullar, london, uk

Is this a joke?

A life-size teddy bear has just won the Turner prize.

I wonder what its name is?

Peter, London,

I'm pleased to hear that this frankly rather silly woman has been liberated from this country full of frankly quite astonishingly silly people.

She shouldn't come back to the UK though. Any one of us could be kidnapped by the CIA at any time. I've SEEN 24!

Mikey, Bromley, Kent

Mohammed Teddy Bears are appearing on eBay. Universal world ridicule is the appropriate response to this ludicrous situtation created by the Sudanese. They, not Mrs Gibbons,have brought their religion into disrepute.

eric, harrogate, uk

Once again the muslims have shot themselves well and truly in the foot.
We are told to respect and be tolerant to this religion.
Why should we tolerate a religion that itself does not tolerate an innocent act.
Nobody in future must ever say to me that these muslims who have been chanting, jeering and ranting for the teachers death are equal to me.
This whole episode has been the best advertisment that any extremist political party could ever want. I bet the BNP are smiling from ear to ear.
It has just put across for the BNP in the media, everything they themselves where never allowed to.

mike , ADLINGTON,

No more aid to the Sudan and lets call ALL our citizens home right away. This country is an(evil) joke.

Sunny, northwood, middlesex

What really gets me is that these Muslims demand that their beliefs are respected with little to no acknowledgement or tolerance of anyone else's. Given events, how on earth are we ever to progress diplomatic relations with such irrational and unstable people?

M J Warnes, Norwich, United Kingdom

That teddy bear was one representative of a very docile, serene, meditative species, the species of all teddy bears populating nurseries and rooms everywhere. Very reliable, very stable, with a firm and honest approach to the world around him. Why is therefore giving that name to a teddy bear an outrageous insult?

In comparison, giving that sacred name to a person, well... if a teddy bear's moral conduct is questionable and its ability to live up to that name also very questionable, then surely, humans are not exactly better?

Teddy bears do not get tempted and/or sin all the time. They do not say or act out heresies. They certainly don't cheat, murder, torture and just generally torment others (teddy bears or humans or pets)... They don't destroy the planet either, their carbon footprint throughout their life is zero.

So many things can't be said about humans and can be said in praise and reverence of teddy bears. So... who are less suited to bear (pun intended) that sacred name?

_peter, Farnborough, UK

It is not over!!! The clerics believe it is offensive to release her early they will send the mobs to the steet , every foreigner left in Sudan is in danger.

Carlos, Albuquerque, NM, USA

I wont contribute to african charities again. They want alot from the world to dig them out of disease, genocide, instability and inability to run their country on their own.. and this is how they repay the generosity of a good teacher.

T, Oklahoma, USA

Was this indeed a plot to close the school where Gillian was teaching, with the complaining fired employee used as the pawn? Will the fired secretary now be lauded by the president of Sudan for having forced the closing of the school, leaving a few more Sudanese children in the dark ages of ignorance about the rest of the world?

EveG, oakland,, CA/USA

If I can find a little more to respect about this peaceful religion, I will be able to look upon it with contempt.

Charles, Charlottesville,

Just think of all the money we've raised for these people through different charities and official sources,all efforts are just wasted.Let them get on with it ,thats what they want.All support both monetry and human,should be withdrawn,from all Islamic nations (AFGANISTAN,IRAQ AND SO ON)until they really want to be reasonable..

R.Tear, SOUTHPORT, MERSEYSIDE

I appeal to Timesonline journalists not to blame a poor teacher for an unintentional slip of the tongue! Even you, as highly trained professionals, sometimes make mistakes in the use of words, a skill which, after all, is your living! As a language teacher myself, I feel obliged to provide an illlustration of the accusation I have just made. So here it is: the headline of the Timesonline article we are talking about reads as follows: "Teddy bear teacher flies out of the Sudan." Hmmm...Ambiguity knows no bounds. This could mean that the Sudanese, in order to instruct the British people in true diplomacy, are reversing the cultural roles, and are sending us a teddy bear as a teacher...!

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

This story reminds me of my short teaching stint in southern Thailand in 2001. I taught at a college of Islamic studies (part time) aside from my regular job. The staff whom I was teaching, at the college wore western clothes and were always very receptive of my classes.

Then they asked me to teach the students. I taught the students who were there to study Islamic religion for one day and was never asked to teach them again. I remember very clearly how they looked at me with total disdain. I am sure I did nothing to offend them other than just being in their presence.

Later there were bombs threats on campus and when one went off under my dormitory window a few days later, I left my post. I should note that I had some seemingly very nice Muslim acquaintances.

gmartin, Taipei, Taiwan

Boycott Sudanese made goods...eliminate travel to all muslim nations...

Move away from oil...

Hit them in the pocketbook...

Enough is enough...my next buy is NOT going to be a car run on gasoline...

christa, san diego, ca

Is this the type of goverment and justice resident Muslims
in britain want to have here for the rest of us....If so maybe it would
be better not to stay here as britain is and always has been and
always will be a tolerant and understanding society....and trying
to bring in a controlled society will not work...Its been tried for
1000yrs and has not happened yet and never will be.

Peter, Shoreham by Sea , SUSSEX

John Smith...if you hate them so much, why live in muslim country for the last 20 years...hypocrite.

sv, Bristol, UK

This whole barbaric incident has shown that muslims need to think differently about their own intolerence.
Step one ... is stop blaming others for their own backwardness.
Instead of constantly asserting that muslims are victims ... they need to re-examine their own outdated practices.
This incident has shown how out of touch Islam is with the rest of the modern world

Maria, Leeds, UK

Why were Muslim peers needed to make the Sudanese see sense? It was obvious that she would be released, but only if Britain would be appologetic to the regime. Just see how Britain entertained the Saudis to royal banquets recently, ignoring their human rights abuses. Britain needs to stand up for itself. The 2nd world war should show that you cannot appease those who hate you. Now Britain is so thankful she was released, completely ignoring the idiocy that ended up with her behind bars. They will take every liberty we give them and not reciprocate while trying to impose their tyrannical way of life upon us. Unfortunately, needless actions such as this will fuel fascism and support for the disgraceful BNP types.
And if Jesus is a "prophet of Islam" I suppose we can't call teddys that!

_ben, NW, England

so this Mohammed the profit would agree to flog another human being to death for letting muslim children name there teddy bear after him!!
these people are not dedicated to their faith all they want to do is hurt others for not sharing the same belief's as them what ever happened to a tollerent world who respected each others views and opinions??

jay, northampton,

I find it interesting that no Muslim has seemingly seen fit to comment in this forum, expressing pleasure at the release but acknowledging openly the fact that those who celebrated her arrest and imprisonment, and indeed clamoured for even harsher measures, have well and truly shot themselves and their religion in the metaphorical foot ; which punishment , for all I know, might actually be yet another example of the medieval barbarism that too many adherents to Islam support.

GEORGE MAGUIRE, LONDON,

Ms Gibbons has loads of class unlike her Sudan accusers. Well done Ms. Gibbons, you can teach my kids anytime!

James Bacon, Toronto, Canada

That this even happened is absurd. What "religion" can be taken seriously that would call for the execution of someone for naming a stuffed animal the same name as their prophet? So should all the parents who named their children after their prophet be jailed or executed too? It's absurd.

RF, Springfield,

I'm glad that's all over... for now. But I can't help wondering what the Sudanese government will do when they discover that a Bear in Chicago is named Mohammed (Chicago Bears - American football team - number 87 - Mousa Mohammed). My God!

Elisha

Elisha Moor, London, England

What of the children who actually named the bear? Will they too be jailed, whipped or beheaded? I doubt that Sharia makes any allowances based on age when it comes to defaming their prophet.

Dan , St.Paul, MN/USA

Sudan is another battlefront in the multi-way war between "the West" and various sects of Islam. People ignorant of even recent history are bound to get themselves in trouble. All the 'crisis' about about some previously unknown British lady while hundreds maybe thousands of Sudanese ladies and children are being sytematically murdered raped and disenfranchised in the very same country is just another exercise in hypocrisy and self imposed ignorance. I see a lot of back clapping and finger wagging going on but this isnt Brixton or some other black neighborhood thats "out of control" this a war zone quite literally. Chart this up to politics and pandering.

Masopher, London, UK

I agree that the west's failure to address the growing Islamic fundametalism and free reign that Islam is being given will have us sleepwalking to disaster. I am fed up of the murderous intent and actions shown in the name if 'Islam'. There is no respect from Islam for other religions, and trite, banal statements of Islam being about 'tolerance' frankly don't wash with me. Actions speak louder than words. Thousands are killed or injured by terrorist actions on behalf of Islam around the world - not just the heinous 9/11 and London tube bombings, but unrest worldwide from Sudan to Thailand is directly linked to their belief in establishing Islamic states. I am sick to death of this 'religion of peace'. I speak with some first hand experience, as a Brit living in an Arab country since 1978. Wake up and smell the coffee. They do hate 'us', it's more about racism than religion and more 'moderates' would show their true colours if they thought they could get away with it.

John Smith, Dubai, UAE

The Muslims wonder why people don't like them and discriminate against them. This is another case of demanding Westerners to be tolerant of their culture and views no matter how ridiculous it is and how incompatible it is with our own but when a Christian woman makes an innocent mistake such as this, they want her hung, shot and beaten. They are only hurting their own because they are ruining it for the moderate Muslims who are nothing like this.

Jo, Los Angeles, USA

And then everyone is trying to convince me that we're all equal in this word. No we are not, I refuse to be "equal" with these monstrous people.

James Balliol, Tufnell Park, London

Do these events also mean that the Sudanese will also shoot, draw and quarter, or whatever is in vogue these days, all Sudanese also named "Muhammed?"

RS, Stockholm, Sweden

While this is a good outcome in many ways, in others it is not. The woman had committed no crime (even under shari'a law) for which to be pardoned. It is for Sudan to meet international human rights standards, not for others to come pleading with them to release an innocent woman. Ahmed and Warsi have done well to prove that Islam is not monolithic, but where were the numerous 'moderate' Muslim organizations round the world whose voices would have lent weight to theirs? Every time we appease rather than shun, we let down everyone involved. Ordinary Sudanese would benefit from a policy that derides and shuns the egregious hardline Islamic government in power there.

Denis MacEoin, Newcastle,

Whatever the cost , the British Government should look after their own citizens.

Louis Blanc, Warsaw, Poland

good.

now I wonder when millions of sudanese will get to go home.

jem, london, uk

This is wrong, so very very wrong from two points of view. Firstly, that in our own society and culture we have to rely on to Muslim peers to negotiate with Muslim leaders in order to make them see sense that naming a Teddy Bear doesn't mean that beheading should follow. Secondly, do we have to ensure every single child in the world is educated in the Koran, to ensure they don't slip up when they go abroad when they are adults ? I'm in my mid-40s and I didn't know the ins and outs, what chance do billions of others have ?

Douglas McFarlane, London, UK

Secular liberalism should not necessarily mean appeasing the religious and cultural sensibilities of all and sundry. If there is a weakness it will be exploited by bad elements and spread like a cancer. Soon Islam will have us all rubbing our noses in the dirt five times a day. They have already got the government doing it.

ant, Limoges, France,

Could an Islamic scholar explain to me why one cannot name a ' teddybear ' Muhammad but there are millions of men who have that name and that quite a few ,by definition, must be thieves, arsonists, adulterers,murderers, wife beaters etc. Are these men not defiling the name of Muhammad by their actions ?

Martin, London , England.

So Mrs. Gibbons get a Presidential pardon while out on the streets of Khartoum the mob is chanting “Execute her, no tolerance shame on the UK” and this is coming from the religion of peace and tolerance no less. If you believe that you will believe anything.

Lagenda, Kendal, England

A pardon? The crime was not that her pupils named the bear Muhammad, the crime was that the Sudanese government/ authorities acted irrationality and foolishly.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

I have always trusted for cooler heads to prevail--I am glad that though Darfur still looms in this administration's background, that the Sudanese President has shown foresight and courage against vast opposition in his planned pardon--let us hope this continues when the Darfur issue comes back into the World court of public Opinion.

James Olson, Davenport, IA

Will I be arrested in the UK or anywhere in the world for naming my soft toy Jesus?

kw, Grays, Essex

ٍMs Gibbons should not have been arrested in the first place. The Khartoum military dictatorship exploited the ignorance of the mob to gain temporary popularity. This government is implicated in the Darfur massacres and the abuse of human rights and should be punished and not thanked for its empty but predicatable gesture.

nehad ismail, London, england

Wonderful news and Good Luck Gillian in all your future endeavours.

Well done to Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed - you two have done a great job; not just for Gillian but your communities too. This is clearly a task that non Muslim British negotiators would have struggled mightily with.

This school, the Unity High School in Khartoum, clearly does not provide proper training and support for its teachers given its location and I wonder how many will be clamoring to apply now.

Baroness Warsi was so impressive being interviewed. Think about it Mr Cameron! And let's hear a lot more from intelligent, reasoned and positive British Muslims. You two are wonderful "ambassadors" both for your communities and for all that British democracy has traditionally held dear.

Job well done!!

Alison Hugh, Harpenden, UK

Thanks to Lord Ahmed, however I wonder what Lord Palmerston would have thought.

It seems that an Britain has had to go cap in hand to Sudan for an apparent sleight which was not of its own doing.

I wonder whether the British Council and other aid aid agencies should reconsider their aid positions depending on the government authorities esure the safety pf those engaged in aid programs.

Albie, London uk,

when in rome do as romans do
britannia no longer rules the waves
when britain does not want immigrants people in other parts of the world simply reciprocate

simon fernandes, london, uk

Well what a storm in a teacup the whole thing was.She had to spend a week being well looked after in a Sudanese jail.No doubt the tabloids will have tales of torture like having to wear pyjamas and being called Mr Bean.Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in Darfur yet this incident gets full front page coverage.It shows how the British mentality works,we are impervious to the suffering of others and are a nation of drama queens.

Robby B, PLYMOUTH, UK

What seems to have been overlooked is that Mrs. Gibbons has already served fourteen days in detention and her conviction was for only one more day inside! Clearly the two MPs did not cancel their return trip because they knew they could not see the president until Sunday and they had already stated they went there to accompany her on the flight back to Britain.All is well that ends well and Gibbons can now sit back and write a book about her experiences in Sudan - as long as she does not call it 'Muhammed'!

Joy Pattinson, Geneva, Switzerland

One only has to guess at the kind of deals, in addition to a grovelling apology for "offending Islam", that have been extorted in order to get this silly woman freed.

The grandstanding by "muslim peers" in order to reduce this womans sentence, in a comfortable bungalow, by a couple of days is laughable.

I just wonder what this has cost our country in terms of cash, honour and "cultural cringes" to pander to a bunch of medieval fanatics.

Geoff Miller, Londonistan, England

"wound the sensibilities of Muslims"..ok , lets not keep giving £350,000000 every year to this country.
How pathetic this whole thing is..God give me strength . Ooh am I allowed to say that or will I wound the sensibilities of Christians, or Bhuddists, or any other religion with a God?

MIKE, Cheltenham, uk

Great news!

perhaps we should send these two peers to teach their version of Islam to the 56 Islamic states which have the 'hardcore' version.

kate, cheshire, uk

Muslim sensitivity is one thing. Muslim hyper-sensitivity is quite another. The whole episode has made Islam look absurd.

Martin Evans, Newmarket, Suffolk