This is just ridiculous

[Emazing]

Well, as absurd as it seems to us, with respect to established Sudanese law, which the teacher was in violation of, she deserved to be punished through their legal system.

If someone comes here and breaks our laws, even if they did so out if ignorance due to cultural differences, are we going to let them walk? Of course not, they get punished all the same.

Ignorance is no excuse. When you go to a foreign country you'd better learn the laws. Especially in foreign countries which are known to be far less lenient on crime than the US or UK (read: better to be safe than sorry).

[Bema]

The issue is that she didn't name it. The child said he suggested they name it after him - Yet she's the one who got jailed.

[ShaDoW]

Well, as absurd as it seems to us, with respect to established Sudanese law, which the teacher was in violation of, she deserved to be punished through their legal system.

If someone comes here and breaks our laws, even if they did so out if ignorance due to cultural differences, are we going to let them walk? Of course not, they get punished all the same.

Ignorance is no excuse. When you go to a foreign country you'd better learn the laws. Especially in foreign countries which are known to be far less lenient on crime than the US or UK (read: better to be safe than sorry).

Oh really? I wasn't aware there was a written Sudanese law that stated "Teddy Bears musn't be named Muhammad". In fact, Muhammad is quite a common name over there.

[Jman]

Devil's Advocate time!

I don't think the people in Sudan realize just what a teddy bear is, that it's something children are really attached to and love, and that that's why the children named it Muhammed.

They just think "oh, some Christian British woman teaching at some upscale school named an ANIMAL after my PROPHET. WTF"

Most of us may not live in a country with Islamic law and values, but Sudan obviously is. How would you like it if someone named their platypus Jesus and you are a die-hard christian? By that I mean, you'd probably be pretty damn upset.

At any rate, 15 days in jail? Whatever. Should their be any jail? No, probably not, but whatever. A complete misunderstanding between two cultures has resulted in a nothing punishment for someone who can now write a book.

If a child named his bear Jesus, I wouldn't really care. Jesus us a popular name in Mexico I've heard, so there's nothing to get mad about.

[lo-fi]

Devil's Advocate time!

I don't think the people in Sudan realize just what a teddy bear is, that it's something children are really attached to and love, and that that's why the children named it Muhammed.

They just think "oh, some Christian British woman teaching at some upscale school named an ANIMAL after my PROPHET. WTF"

Most of us may not live in a country with Islamic law and values, but Sudan obviously is. How would you like it if someone named their platypus Jesus and you are a die-hard christian? By that I mean, you'd probably be pretty damn upset.

At any rate, 15 days in jail? Whatever. Should their be any jail? No, probably not, but whatever. A complete misunderstanding between two cultures has resulted in a nothing punishment for someone who can now write a book.

If a child named his bear Jesus, I wouldn't really care. Jesus us a popular name in Mexico I've heard, so there's nothing to get mad about.

Exactly. Muhammed is the most common name on the planet

[Teeth]

Oh really? I wasn't aware there was a written Sudanese law that stated "Teddy Bears musn't be named Muhammad". In fact, Muhammad is quite a common name over there.

Sudan operates using Sharia law, which is law based directly off of the Quran. Naming the teddy bear Muhammad would be considered idolitry, thus she gets punished. It's stupid, but it's a law. Sucks!

[firedfns13]

So Sudan's government blows? whats new? They just let thousands of people die every year...

[Emazing]

Well, as absurd as it seems to us, with respect to established Sudanese law, which the teacher was in violation of, she deserved to be punished through their legal system.

If someone comes here and breaks our laws, even if they did so out if ignorance due to cultural differences, are we going to let them walk? Of course not, they get punished all the same.

Ignorance is no excuse. When you go to a foreign country you'd better learn the laws. Especially in foreign countries which are known to be far less lenient on crime than the US or UK (read: better to be safe than sorry).

Oh really? I wasn't aware there was a written Sudanese law that stated "Teddy Bears musn't be named Muhammad". In fact, Muhammad is quite a common name over there.

That's a bit of a straw man there, don't you think? There is no law against naming teddy bears Muhammed, but there are laws against blasphemy. There are plenty of people named Muhammed, sure, but not animals.

Now, of course I think it's absurd like the rest of you, I never said otherwise. However, we are looking at this from a strictly Western point of view. I think it's important to understand their own perspective as well, which is vastly different from ours. And from their perspective, one might even say the teacher is getting off easy with her sentence. It's ridiculous, but if we expect other people to respect our own laws and more importantly, our own culture, we must respect their own, especially when in their countries.

The issue is that she didn't name it. The child said he suggested they name it after him - Yet she's the one who got jailed.

Teachers are responsible for our children. This is probably the case everywhere. If an educator teaching in the US or the UK allowed the children under his/her supervision to violate US/UK law, would that teacher not be held responsible?

[ShaDoW]

Well, as absurd as it seems to us, with respect to established Sudanese law, which the teacher was in violation of, she deserved to be punished through their legal system.

If someone comes here and breaks our laws, even if they did so out if ignorance due to cultural differences, are we going to let them walk? Of course not, they get punished all the same.

Ignorance is no excuse. When you go to a foreign country you'd better learn the laws. Especially in foreign countries which are known to be far less lenient on crime than the US or UK (read: better to be safe than sorry).

Oh really? I wasn't aware there was a written Sudanese law that stated "Teddy Bears musn't be named Muhammad". In fact, Muhammad is quite a common name over there.

That's a bit of a straw man there, don't you think? There is no law against naming teddy bears Muhammed, but there are laws against blasphemy. There are plenty of people named Muhammed, sure, but not animals.

I suppose you could be right. Still, I think the crime they made out of it is still way too far fetched by them. But just with every crime they label I guess.

Muhammad isn't wrong though. ^^

[nub]

It seems that everyone thinks the West has a "plot"

Kind of true too. There was some documentary released on DVD over here explaining every single detail about the Iraqi War. President Bush had almost no say in it. He just gave the go. Vice President Dick Chaney acts more like the president than the vice president...

Anyway, there's already a 12 year agenda for Iraq in place. The U.S. has PERMANENT bases set up there already. My brother has seen it all with his own eyes. But he also says some things are for a good cause. Not that all of it is making a difference. Probably about 98% of it is just lust for money and power. That's literally all it is with politics these days.

But yeah, these factions of muslims--who think anyone who is a non-believer of their religion and and beliefs--deserves to die; are one of the main causes of all this freaking chaos. I'm surprised the teacher isn't getting executed for her actions, judging from recent events.

[Bema]

Well she's finally been released, with a presidential pardon no-less.

Teddy row teacher returning home

[Khaeotixs]

Teachers are responsible for our children. This is probably the case everywhere. If an educator teaching in the US or the UK allowed the children under his/her supervision to violate US/UK law, would that teacher not be held responsible?

Nope, only the child. The teacher would probably be told "well, he was a disobedient kid, you did your best, now go f*cking teach!"

I speak from experience, having broken many laws in school.