Kill Gillian Gibbons

MOHAMED OSMAN, Associated Press Writer, reports on "Calls in Sudan for execution of Briton."

Mohamed Osman writes:

"Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and knives, rallied Friday in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad."

Did Osman's parents name him Mohamed because they wanted to insult Islam?

He's not a teddy bear; but still, it's a slippery slope. Perhaps Osman should use a pen name. Thousands of Sudanese could turn on him.

Cassius Clay was lucky that when he changed his name to Muhammad Ali, crazed mobs didn't call for his head.

When a class of children decide to name a teddy bear after a popular student, is that really an insult to Islam? Should the teacher of the class be arrested and convicted for the offense?

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and knives, rallied Friday in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad."

In response to the demonstration, teacher Gillian Gibbons was moved from the women's prison near Khartoum to a secret location for her safety, her lawyer said.

The protesters streamed out of mosques after Friday sermons, as pickup trucks with loudspeakers blared messages against Gibbons, who was sentenced Thursday to 15 days in prison and deportation. She avoided the more serious punishment of 40 lashes.

They massed in central Martyrs Square outside the presidential palace, where hundreds of riot police were deployed. They did not try to stop the rally, which lasted about an hour.

"Shame, shame on the U.K.," protesters chanted.

They called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

Gibbons' chief lawyer, Kamal al-Gizouli, said she was moved from the prison for her safety for the final nine days of her sentence.

"They moved this lady from the prison department to put her in other hands and in other places to cover her and wait until she completes her imprisonment period," he said, adding that she was in good health.

Let's cut to the chase.

These people are absolutely deranged.

They left their MOSQUES AFTER FRIDAY SERMONS and with clubs and knives in hand, they chanted, "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

"No tolerance." No kidding.

And I think it's bad when people leave Mass and get out in the church parking lot, get behind the wheel, and act like jerks, cutting others off and behaving in a rather uncivilized, unchristian fashion. At least I've never seen anyone brandishing clubs and knives or calling for a fellow parishioner's execution.

...The protest arose despite vows by Sudanese security officials the day before, during Gibbons' trial, that threatened demonstrations after Friday prayers would not take place. Some of the protesters carried green banners with the name of the Society for Support of the Prophet Muhammad, a previously unknown group.

Many protesters carried clubs, knives and axes — but not automatic weapons, which some have brandished at past government-condoned demonstrations. That suggested Friday's rally was not organized by the government.

What self-control!

The protesters left the automatic weapons at home!

A Muslim cleric at Khartoum's main Martyrs Mosque denounced Gibbons during one sermon, saying she intentionally insulted Islam. He did not call for protests, however.

"Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan. But we welcome imprisonment and expulsion," the cleric, Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri, a well-known hard-liner, told worshippers.

"This an arrogant woman who came to our country, cashing her salary in dollars, teaching our children hatred of our Prophet Muhammad," he said.

Really, is there any talking to or negotiating with such people?

They're uncivilized.

They're hypocritical.

They are radical Islam.

They're perhaps the greatest threat to peace in our time.