The problem is that you can't deal rationally with the irrational. I mean, come on, the death penalty for allowing a 7-year-old student to name a teddy bear Muhammad?
Thousands of Sudanese rallied in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad." The woman was arrested after another staff member at the school complained that she had allowed her 7-year-old students to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Giving the name of the Muslim prophet to an animal or a toy could be considered insulting.Crazy is as crazy does. And Douche Bags are as douche bags do.
The protesters streamed out of mosques after Friday sermons, as pickup trucks with loudspeakers blared messages against Gibbons, who was sentenced to 15 days in prison and deportation. She avoided the more serious punishment of 40 lashes.
"Shame, shame on the U.K.," protesters chanted. They called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad." Many protesters carried clubs, knives and axes — but not automatic weapons, which some have brandished at past government-condoned demonstrations. That suggested the rally was not organized by the government.
"Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan. But we welcome imprisonment and expulsion," the cleric, Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri, a well-known hard-liner, told worshippers.
Most Britons expressed shock at the verdict by a court in Khartoum, alongside hope it would not raise tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in Britain.
"One of the good things is the U.K. Muslims who've condemned the charge as completely out of proportion," said Paul Wishart, 37, a student in London. Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, accused the Sudanese authorities of "gross overreaction." The Muslim Public Affairs Committee, a political advocacy group, said the prosecution was "abominable and defies common sense." The Federation of Student Islamic Societies, which represents 90,000 Muslim students in Britain and Ireland, called on Sudan's government to free Gibbons, saying she had not meant to cause offense.
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3 comments:
Bat.Shit.Crazy.
As Miss Thing pointed out "So, it's OK for 90% of the boys born to have the name, but they're getting spazzed out about a teddy bear??"
I'm all for respecting other people's boundaries, be it religion or politics- but that's just damn crazy. Are they going to take those children out into the town square and stone them too??
Four words- Hell in a handbasket. We're getting closer every day.
I tried to tell myself that, not being a member of or even having a deep understanding of their culture/religion, any judgements I make are based on my own belief system and lenses, yada yada .............but I just can't get my mind around this one.
I'm worried this one ridiculous incident will cause things to escalate on many levels, both here and overseas. The fanatical Christian set will go ape-shit over this, and i'm sure they'll redouble their efforts to elect the most religious, batshit crazy person to the presidency.
I feel for the teacher. She must be very frightened.
How long before that shit happens in this country? The religious right just keeps getting less and less tolerant, and more and more crazy...
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