Never name a teddy bear Muhammad
By Taskr36
@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
December 3, 2007 10:42am CST
A British teacher was jailed while many called for her to be sentenced to death in Sudan. Her crime? This schoolteacher living in Sudan named a teddy bear Muhammad. Fortunately enough intervention by the British government led to her being pardoned. The whole story is here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071203/ap_on_re_af/sudan_british_teacher
I am not posting this to attack Islam. I am just disgusted that there are still not only people, but entire nations who would punish someone for naming a freaking teddy bear. Mobs of people wanted her to be killed for this. The official penalty was 40 lashes, six months in prison, and a fine.
Remember folks, the US was removed from the UN human rights commission, but Sudan was allowed to remain. Seems that the UN believes torturing a teacher for naming a teddy bear is just fine on the human rights scale.
4 people like this
10 responses
@Abk1991 (2)
• Pakistan
3 Dec 07
It is not about naming somebody!
It is about the level of respect nations give to that name.
"MUHAMMAD" is being considered a very very holy and sacred name amongst Muslim nations and this fact is known by the enitre world.
If someone names teddy bear as "MUHAMMAD", knowing this fact, it is obvious that people are going to oppose this action!
Just consider, if someone names a teddy bear as "St.Paul", would Chrisitains like this? Not at all...
Same case applied for Muslims!
As Muslims, Islam teahces us to possess high standards of respecting other religions. And we can never name a teddy bear as religious hero of any religion, wihtin our ethical boundaries!
1 person likes this
@shahmeerx (368)
• Pakistan
3 Dec 07
its a fact about respect ,its not harsh punishment that they should remember it with .Maybe some sort of huge fine could be imposed on naming as such
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
3 Dec 07
Dude, here in America there are people who would name a teddy bear something like St. Paul. I know people who named their dog Moses after the biblical figure. Under no circumstances would anyone in America face any sort of legal punishment for such an act.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I don't blame the teacher. I blame the local school officials that knew naming the bear was against the law.All they had to do was tell her that the kids couldn't name the bear Muhammad and she needed to give the bear another name.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I wonder if they wanted her out of the school and set her up.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
4 Dec 07
This occurred to me as well.
Why didn't the school tell her what was considered okay and not okay in Sudan? Why did they let her step right into things?
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I agree a bit with Tas. It's not a respresentation of islam as a religion, it's a statement of how that country is.
But then, Sudan isn't the only country that doesn't belong on the list. But still.
It is a wonder, when one thinks about it in detail.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
4 Dec 07
Well I don't think their actions are representative of the Islamic faith. I believe that it is the culture of too many in the middle east to torture and kill people who do not share their beliefs. Sudan has long been a terrible country that allows slavery and torture. I just can't understand how such a place can be allowed on the UN's Human Rights Committee.
@shahmeerx (368)
• Pakistan
3 Dec 07
It was totally wrong to punish her so hardly,The Prophet muhammad pbuh him self forgave the persecuters of makkah then who are these people to punish the lady,IF a guy with the name Muhammad performs sins he is never punished for ruining the name.Thus the government shall have no right to punish her
@shahmeerx (368)
• Pakistan
3 Dec 07
although she should ask for forgiveness because her act had hurt many feelings
@tazpromote (965)
• United States
3 Dec 07
It is really sad to hear that name of a teddy bear kept with similar name to hurt religion. Within more than 600 crores peoples in this world there are huge religions. But if anyone criticize other religion this is not fair. A teacher should teach the student good things and to teach them to avoid bad or evil things. So if he or she teach student in class bad things, she or he is not a real teacher but a great studip.
@tazpromote (965)
• United States
3 Dec 07
You are welcome. I just don't agree with people using religion as a cover or using it for harm. It's just not right! Have a great day!
@nkhanna (922)
• India
4 Dec 07
hi Taskr.i guess the punishment was too much.it should be less than this.what se did was wrong of course.i think nobody has the right ot offend any religion.every religion or community has its own faith and belief and we all should respect it.giving punishment to the lady is essential so that others do not commit this mistake again.
@paul8675 (750)
• Australia
4 Dec 07
This is of course disgraceful and no intelligent person would deny that. Unfortunately, while there is Islam, this type of conduct will continue. I just wish that this blight on humanity that is called Islam was wiped off the planet. I guess when Christ comes again, that that will happen.
@DuoMaxwell (953)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I've got nothing againt Muslims, or Islam. Only terrorism.
I know that we've made fun of God Jesus Christ and Christianity in South Park, The Simpsons, Family Guy and other media, but we never overreact to such stuff.
Still, to get in a tizzy fit over naming a teddy bear after the prophet? Even having some Sudanese people call for her head on a platter?
As I said, I don't have a problem with Muslims and Islam, or even with Muhammad, but their riotous reaction to such a situation, and a possible punishment of 6 months in jail and 40 lashes on a British teacher like her...isn't that going too far? Isn't that a bit too Draconian for even their Sharia law to enforce, brutal punishment for naming a prophet after anything, even a cute teddy bear?
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
3 Dec 07
I cannot believe the outrage over naming a teddy bear. What also gets me is why such a big deal was made over naming this bear Muhammad when right in the article it states that name is the most popular name for males there. I think ppl are starting to get the message that Islamic/Muslim ppl are not all the peaceful sweet ppl that they hold out to be.
As for me personally, I wouldn't venture into that part of the country on a dare. Say what you will, but I know what will and won't get me killed or locked up in the U.S.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
4 Dec 07
Thank you for your response. In the article it did mention all the Muslims in western countries who were just as disgusted with the Sudanese government. I don't think it's the Muslim faith as much as the culture in some middle-eastern countries that encourages such barbaric and violent behavior. Some people just look for excuses to be offended.
