Teacher charged with inciting hatred after students name teddy bear Muhammad

A British teacher was charged with inciting religious hatred in Sudan. She had allowed her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad, seen as referring to Islam's prophet.

Photo: Teacher charged with inciting hatred after students name teddy bear Muhammad

Sudan's prosecutor general, Salah Addin Abuzeit, said the case against teacher Gillian Gibbons would be referred to the court on Thursday, the agency, SUNA, reported.

She was charged under article 125 of the Sudanese legal code, Abuzeit said. If convicted, she could face up to 40 lashes and six months prison.

Gibbons was arrested Sunday in Khartoum after she allowed her 7-year-old students to name the teddy bear, Muhammad.

In London, a spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office confirmed that Gibbons was charged under section 125 of Sudan's criminal law. The spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity in compliance with the ministry's regulations, had no other information.