the salt makers

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Sudanese student today defended the British teacher accused of insulting Islam saying he had chosen to call a teddy bear Mohammad because it was his own name.

Gillian Gibbons, a 54-year-old teacher, was arrested on Sunday after complaints that she had insulted Islam's Prophet by allowing the bear to be named Mohammad.

She is facing a third night in jail without being formally charged.

The boy said: "The teacher asked me what I wanted to call the teddy. I said Mohammad. I named it after my name."

He said he was not thinking of Islam's Prophet when asked to suggest a name, adding most of the class agreed with his choice.

Described as “timid and polite,” Ms Gibbons - facing 40 lashes for the 'offence' - had told friends how she was loving her life in the country.

The teacher, from Liverpool, let her class of seven-year-olds choose the teddy’s name as part of a project at Unity High School.

She was said to be “deeply distressed” in a police cell last night after learning she faces the barbaric lashing under the Muslim state’s strict sharia law.

Former colleague Gill Langworthy said today: “I saw her in July and had farewell drinks and she was so excited about going.

“Since then we have been in email contact at least once a week.

“Last week she sent one with pictures of her sitting on a camel and a beach, loving it, she felt so welcomed and loved teaching the children.”

Miss Langworthy, who taught with Ms Gibbons at Garston Primary School in Liverpool, said teaching abroad had always been her friend’s dream.

But she fears for her safety and thinks the experience will have damaged her deeply.

She said: “I am constantly worried, and thinking about her sitting in the prison cell is horrible.

“When we emailed, she never mentioned a thing about any problems and only said positive things about the staff and children because I asked her.

“She was just having a great time and said nothing negative at all.”

Miss Langworthy, an assistant headteacher, said her friend had endured a tough few years with the end of her marriage and several bereavements.

She said: “She will be absolutely petrified about her children John and Jessica and how they are coping and what they are thinking. She’ll be more worried about them.

“But obviously, she will be scared for her own safety.”

Police seized the 12in brown teddy complete with its handwritten name badge, describing it as “evidence”.

An angry group of young men was said to have gathered outside the police station where mum-of-two Gillian is being held to protest about her conduct.

The teacher – formerly deputy head of Liverpool’s Dovecot primary school – began a two-year posting in Khartoum two months ago.

Complaint

Miss Langworthy explained that Ms Gibbons had always wanted to see the world: “It was always a dream of hers.

"Gillian is such a traveller and wanted to increase her knowledge of different cultures and countries and every year would go on mad explorations.

“She always said she fancied teaching abroad.

“She was just fascinated by Sudan and wanted to learn more about their culture and experience life there - which is just Gillian down to a T.

“I think this will knock her confidence horrendously. I am really worried about how it will affect her."

Miss Langworthy said her “inspirational teacher” friend would be “devastated that she has insulted and offended anyone” with “an innocent mistake”.

She was arrested at her home on the school site even though no parents objected to the bear’s name.

It is thought another teacher, said to belong to a conservative Khartoum family, made a complaint.

An item on the Sudanese Media Centre website – closely linked to the nation’s government – reported Gillian could be prosecuted under “faith and religions” legislation.

The teacher, who is estranged from her husband Peter, could also face imprisonment or a large fine.

Her case is being monitored by the British embassy in the city.

A spokesman said: “The children chose the name because it is very common here. Parents did not have a problem with it. We are in contact with the authorities here and they have visited her. She is in good condition.”

The school was set up by Christian groups but also welcomes Muslim pupils. Director Robert Boulos said Gillian “is timid, polite and the children love her”.

The teacher’s former next-door neighbour in Liverpool said she would be going through hell.

Peter Sorensen, 64, added: “Gillian wouldn’t harm a fly. I’m sure she would never have done anything deliberately to insult the Muslim faith.”

Gillian is a keen traveller and is pictured on her MySpace web page with a cheetah and locals during a trip to Kenya. She told pals she hoped to use Sudan as a base to “indulge my wanderlust”.

Her children Jessica, 27, and John, 25, would not comment last night. A relative said: “They do not want to aggravate the situation.”