ANNOUNCEMENT: With news that Gilliam Gibbons has now been pardoned after the efforts of Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi in securing her release.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7125572.stm
Let it be known that the majority of Muslims who were in full possession of the facts saw this as a farcical case and DID NOT support the Sudanese government.
Teacher Gillian Gibbons was arrested under Sudan's blasphemy laws when she allowed her class of young children to name a teddy bear "Muhammad". As Muslims we understand the sanctity of this name but we feel that this incident was a result of innocence on the part of the children and an oversight on the part of the teacher, Gillian Gibbons, who intended no offence.
We believe that any action to punish Ms. Gibbons will be to the detriment of Islam and Muslims everywhere and therefore urge our brothers and sisters in Sudan to show mercy and accept Ms. Gibbons' apology on the matter and bring to a close this unfortunate situation.
In the name of God the Most Gracious Most Merciful
as-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatAllahi wa Barakatuh
(Peace be upon you with the Mercy and Blessings of God)
We the undersigned,
Urge our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Sudan Government to immediately free school teacher Gillian Gibbons and treat the case with wisdom and mercy.
As Muslims we understand the sanctity of the name "Muhammad" but we feel that this incident was a result of innocence on the part of the children and an oversight and the part of Gillian Gibbons who intended no offence and has offered an unequivocal apology over the matter.
In the West the teddy bear is a symbol of love, happiness and joy and it is because of this fondness and love for the Prophet (God bless him and grant him peace) that the children chose the name Muhammad. The teacher, Gillian Gibbons, who is not a Muslim seems to have been unaware of the problems this would cause and it is quite clear that she intended no offence.
We believe that any action to punish Ms. Gibbons will be to the detriment of Islam and Muslims everywhere and therefore urge our brothers and sisters in Sudan to show mercy and accept Ms. Gibbons' apology on the matter and bring to a close this unfortunate situation.
On the Day of Judgement, each one of us will ask for the Mercy of God, no one will ask for the Judgement of God, since we all will fall short and it will be the Mercy of God that will save us. So let us be merciful to others! Indeed the Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and grant him peace) showed mercy to those who abused him deliberately, what then of a person who has done this innocently?
We hope that the Government of Sudan will look upon this request from their brothers and sisters favourably, we thank you for taking the time to read this plea.
