Sudan police throw teacher in jail for naming teddy bear Muhammad
What is wrong with these people??!! I'm paralysed with disbelief after reading a story that Sudanese police arrested a British schoolteacher and accused her of insulting Islam after she allowed her 7 year old pupils to name a class teddy bear Muhammad. She had asked the children to choose their favourite name for the new class mascot, which she was using to aid lessons about animals and their habitats. In a class vote, the pupils rejected her own suggestion of "Faris". They came up with eight names including Abdullah, Hassan and Muhammed with 20 out of 23 deciding to call the cuddly toy Muhammad - also the name of one of the class's most popular boys, and a very common Muslim name.It would seem entirely natural that children would pick a familiar name, which also has some resonance for them, to name a mascot. How is this possibly an insult? Nobody is saying the Prophet is a teddy bear. For anyone to even suggest that is simply ridiculous. Islam is supposed to be able to grasp the abstract, rather than diminish everything to the concrete. That is why it talks about the believers as those who 'believe in the unseen'. This attitude shows a disappointing and almost quite comical literalism. Comical in its complete absurdity and small-mindedness. Comical, except for the poor teacher in question who must have been shell-shocked with this whole situation. And is now facing quite frightening (and entirely dispropotionate and shameful charges)
I don't believe naming a teddy bear 'Muhammed' is offensive. Children will often name their toys with names they like, or are familiar with, both of which apply in this case. Further, I don't believe that the lady in question meant any malice - she was simply offering the children the opportunity to reach a collective decision of their own, which was then agreed by the parents by letter. There does not appear to be any slur or insult intended at all - quite the reverse, the teddy seems to have been part of an education and literacy programme of which I'm sure the Prophet Muhammed would have been proud. My sympathies are with the lady, and I ask the Sudanese authorities to consider the substance of the matter rather than simply the sensationalist headlines. I also ask them to live up to the values of generosity, understanding, common sense and 'soft sweet words' which are the bastions of the Islamic ethos.
Naming a teddy bear is not an insult. But now this is turning into a power struggle with the poor woman caught in the middle.
posted by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed at 21:43
10 Comments:
It is good to hear this view expressed and surely common sense dictates that this issue should never have got to this stage. I would be interested to hear you views as to what you think is the 'real' agenda. Is it an attempt to close the school permanently - but why would parents who have choosen to send their children to such a school have complained and reported her in this way - and so long after the event.
It certainly has done nothing to improve the image of Muslims by the non-muslim community.
Footballers can, where circumstances warrant it, be charged with "bringing the game into disrepute."
Perhaps there should be an equivalent charge against people who besmirch the reputation of a religion.
The only ones guilty of 'bringing Islam into disrepute' in this case are the Sudanese authorities.
Nice analogy, I like it :-)
There's a line in one of the Die Hard films where Jeremy Irons (I think) is playing a terrorist. Things are not going his way until the FBI cut the power to the building, unlocking the safe, and he says "You asked for a miracle gentlemen - I give you the F.B.I."
It springs to mind here - those around the world who would like to see the end of Islam must be on their feet and dancing at this story - "You ask for a miracle gentlemen - I give you the Sudanese police".
I'd also bet money (if I bet) that there are thousands of children up and down the UK frantically being told to rename their soft toys.
As a child I had a cuddly Hedgehog that I named Hamza (after the uncle of the Prophet Muhammed. The uncle had a reputation for being courageous. Definitely NOT named after the other infamous hamza, who wasn't on the scene at that time). I also had a small cuddly Seal that I named Sara, after the wife of Abraham, since she was known for being one of the women of paradise. Apart from bestowing alliteration on my cuddly toys through their naming, I wish to make sure they grew up with aspirations and vision.
:-)
What really upsets me is the amount of hype this gets- why is it that every time some idiots who happen to be Muslim do something stupid, we all get labelled with the same brush!
And those idiots that are supporting this stupidity should be reprimanded as well! (I heard there are some Moulanas who are saying it’s a good thing the Shariah scholars are doing this- sigh!)
Hamza the Hedgehog made me smile :)
"some idiots who happen to be Muslim" but it's not that they 'happen' to be Muslim; they are doing this (they say) because they are Muslim. I agree with what you say generally Bilal - I hate it if they say "...was caught speeding (or whatever) and she played the organ at the local church" which is completely irrelevant but the Sudanese say they are doing this because of being Muslims so it really is up to the real moderate Muslims to make a huge noise about this or they will be tarred with the same brush. This happened during the IRA bombs in UK of course people with irish accents were often treated with suspicion.
At least this woman got a trial.
What gets me is that the UK can lock people up for 28 days without charge, and this period looks as if it's going to be extended.
So why the fuss over this teacher, and why is there no outrage over the 28 day detention period? Is it because (a) The teacher is white and (b) detention without charge applies only to (non-white) Muslims?
Frankly, the UK has lost any moral authority to tell Sudan what to do. In the meantime, Muslims jump up and down saying how very unfair this whole incident is to one white person. It makes me sick.
The irony is "Muhammad is just a surname. There are thousands of children named Muhammad. By the same argument anyone who sports the name Muhammad is guilty of blasphemy. This crisis simply spreads the notion that laws in Islamic countries are whimsical and arbitrary "
We could do without the controversy for sure. Because the fact that there have been vociferous condemnation of the case is a hidden footnote in an article but the fact that some protesters want the teacher killed is an individual article.
Post a Comment
<< Home