Shoot UK teacher, say protesters

[ruksak]

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Shoot UK teacher, say protesters

Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed by a court on Thursday after allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. She was sentenced to 15 days for insulting religion, and she will then be deported.

'Kill her' The marchers took to the streets after Friday prayers to denounce the sentence as too lenient. The protesters gathered in Martyrs Square, outside the presidential palace in the capital, many of them carrying knives and sticks. Marchers chanted "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad".

SO....where are these "peaceful" Muslims I hear so much about? Why no outrage by these supposed "Peaceful" Muslims over the calls for this womans death?

[tinybear]

Maybe these 'peaceful Muslims' approve of her being shot too. Who knows?

[Winter wind]

SO....where are these "peaceful" Muslims I hear so much about? Why no outrage by these supposed "Peaceful" Muslims over the calls for this womans death?

The peaceful Muslims took a rain check from the protest. Did you expect a protest just opposite them yelling "free her, she hasn't done anything wrong"?

Also I am outraged by the event, but seeing as I have no judicial control in Sudan, what can I do? Do you want us to raid the place, or just impose economic sanctions?

[tinybear]

Quote by: Winter wind The peaceful Muslims took a rain check from the protest. Did you expect a protest just opposite them yelling "free her, she hasn't done anything wrong"?

Well, yes. If peaceful Muslims far far outnumber the extremists, they should come right out and denounce them and say that they not acting like Muslims should. They should have nothing to fear from a small minority of detractors from the true faith. Indeed, I think the true peaceful Muslims should actively campaign for her release. :)

[Autolykos]

Having read the article, I fail to understand why this woman is being prosecuted for something that her students did. Furthermore, were the students aware that picking out the name Mohammed for a teddy-bear mascot was a religious crime in their country? Somehow, I doubt it.

I'd like to understand the motive of the school secretary, Sarah Khawad, in making her accusation. Was it personal?

- Rob

[Winter wind]

Well, yes. If peaceful Muslims far far outnumber the extremists, they should come right out and denounce them and say that they not acting like Muslims should. They should have nothing to fear from a small minority of detractors from the true faith. Indeed, I think the true peaceful Muslims should actively campaign for her release. :)

Yes, but peaceful Muslims are not necessarily activists, in fact fanatics are more likely to be activists. The peaceful Muslims probably do what you and I do: Talk about it being a disgrace then move on to talking about how Aunt Ruffie is doing.

[tinybear]

Quote by: Winter wind Yes, but peaceful Muslims are not necessarily activists, in fact fanatics are more likely to be activists. The peaceful Muslims probably do what you and I do: Talk about it being a disgrace then move on to talking about how Aunt Ruffie is doing.

Peaceful does not mean apathetic, inert and non-caring. In fact, it's quite the contrary. If your religion is so important to you, you won't standby and see its good name being dragged through the mud by a small minority of deviants without so much as raising your voice against it, would you?

[Winter wind]

Peaceful does not mean apathetic, inert and non-caring. In fact, it's quite the contrary. If your religion is so important to you, you won't standby and see its good name being dragged through the mud by a small minority of deviants without so much as raising your voice against it, would you?

But what if they are passive Muslims that want to just get on with their day? Most of activist recruiting and hype is for the other end rather then the peaceful end. That's just the current temperature of the Islam world.

But an example is Israel. They aren't exactly angels either. There isn't a whole lot of protesting in the Jewish community when they use heavy handed tactics with the world around them, nor when certain Jewish extremist groups go out on a wing. They do say they aren't associated with them, but rarely do they confront the group in question.

[ruksak]

Quote by: Winter wind The peaceful Muslims took a rain check from the protest. Did you expect a protest just opposite them yelling "free her, she hasn't done anything wrong"? Also I am outraged by the event, but seeing as I have no judicial control in Sudan, what can I do? Do you want us to raid the place, or just impose economic sanctions?

Yes. Actually I would expect to see counter protesting. We see this in America all the time. Blacks on one side of the street shouting "Free Micheal Vick". And whites on the other side of the street shouting "Hang Micheal Vick".

Same with every issue that gets protested here in America.

As tinybear said; "If peaceful Muslims far far outnumber the extremists, they should come right out and denounce them".

Inescapable logic. Where are they? There's so many of them. Yet they remain hidden. Why?

[tinybear]

Well, put it this way: if they choose to be the silent majority, then they'd better not be outraged if someone thinks that Muslims are fanatics. I mean if you can't be bothered to dispel this perception, you have only yourself to blame.

[Winter wind]

Well, put it this way: if they choose to be the silent majority, then they'd better not be outraged if someone thinks that Muslims are fanatics. I mean if you can't be bothered to dispel this perception, you have only yourself to blame.

True, but I'm a government student, so my goal isn't who gets blamed. It's what percent of Muslims are fanatics and what percent aren't

[ruksak]

Quote by: Winter Wind It's what percent of Muslims are fanatics and what percent aren't

I would say it's fair to claim that the percent that aren't fanatical, is the same percent we see voicing outrage toward these Sudanese Muslims.


Judging by the hollow echo I hear, that number is significantly low.

[tinybear]

Well, right now I see lots and lots of fanatics calling for her blood and NOBODY defending her. So tell me what I should believe.

[ruksak]

Quote by: tinybear Well, right now I see lots and lots of fanatics calling for her blood and NOBODY defending her. So tell me what I should believe.

Ohhh I'm sure if you watch the nightly news you'll see a smattering of token "House Muslims" voicing opposition to this.

What you won't see is a collective of Muslims demanding that other Muslims pull their asses out of the 14th century and cease with killing everything they do not understand.

[Suburbanite]

Quote by: Winter wind But what if they are passive Muslims that want to just get on with their day? Most of activist recruiting and hype is for the other end rather then the peaceful end. That's just the current temperature of the Islam world.

You're right, their are people all over the world who DONT CARE and are just living their lives. But all the people who care, are maniacs!
If the best thing a muslim can be is apathetic, how about we just drop some jesus pamphlets over their huts.

[GHook93]

Quote by: Winter wind But what if they are passive Muslims that want to just get on with their day? Most of activist recruiting and hype is for the other end rather then the peaceful end. That's just the current temperature of the Islam world.

The moderates have a strong motivation for not protesting against the radicals. Sudan is not the safest country in the world. Standing up could easily get them killed.

But an example is Israel. They aren't exactly angels either. There isn't a whole lot of protesting in the Jewish community when they use heavy handed tactics with the world around them, nor when certain Jewish extremist groups go out on a wing. They do say they aren't associated with them, but rarely do they confront the group in question.

Of course of course every time the Islamic world does soemthing wrong the liberals have to attack Israel. This blatant ignorant statement.

There liberal blind left-wing in Israel is almost as bad as they are in America. The left-wing protested the Lebannon War. Many protest the plan to shut off the justified plan to shut of electricity for every missile attack launched at Israel. Do a little homework next and try to keep Israel out of a talk on injustice in the Islamic world.

[GHook93]

Quote by: ruksak Yes. Actually I would expect to see counter protesting. We see this in America all the time. Blacks on one side of the street shouting "Free Micheal Vick". And whites on the other side of the street shouting "Hang Micheal Vick".

Exactly its America!!! We can do it because we have a free society, that the liberals take for granted. Very easy to be holier than thou from your Ivory Tower. Protesters could be killed on the stop, without the killer even getting slapped on the wrist. Speaking up in Sudan could have a much more blowback than speaking up in America.

I don't fault the moderate muslims in the Sudan for sitting this out!

[Suburbanite]

Don't tase me, bro!

[ruksak]

Quote by: GHook93 I don't fault the moderate muslims in the Sudan for sitting this out!

They're all sitting this out. I don't see them taking to the streets in London. Downtown Indianapolis has nary an angry Muslim protesting the violence that is Islam.

Where are they if not in America?

Muslims will expend all of their energies into protesting Westerners "racist" views of Islam. But there are no pro-active measures being undertaken to eliminate this so-called minority fanaticism.

Every opportunity they have to voice opposition to extremism, gets passed up. Sure, they held vigils and quite small protests against 9/11. But concerning the microcosmic events such as the one stated in the OP of this thread, they take a seat.

[Praxius]

More information on this subject:

Thousands demand British teacher's execution in Sudan

Thousands of protesters, many armed with clubs and knives, marched in Sudan's capital Khartoum on Friday and demanded the death penalty for a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for using a stuffed bear named "Muhammad" as a teaching aid for her class. The massive rally came a day after a Sudanese court sentenced Gillian Gibbons, 54, to 15 days in prison, to be followed by a deportation order, according to her defence lawyer. In an extraordinary move, police in riot gear prevented reporters from entering the courthouse and initially tried to block both her lawyers and British Embassy officials from Thursday's proceedings. Friday's protest began as worshippers streamed out of mosques after sermons amid the blare of loudspeakers placed on pickup trucks, which rally leaders used to shout messages condemning Gibbons, the Associated Press reported. The protesters then assembled in the central Martyrs Square outside the presidential palace and called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad." The maximum penalty in the case, which has attracted worldwide attention and stern condemnation from the British government, was 40 lashes and six months in prison for the original charge of inciting religious hatred. Britain, meanwhile, pursued diplomatic moves to free Gibbons. Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke with a member of her family to convey his regret, his spokeswoman said. "He set out his concern and the fact that we were doing all we could to secure her release," spokeswoman Emily Hands told reporters.....

By their own laws, the worst she could face is 40 Lashes... seeking her death goes against their own laws.