Send a Letter to the Sudanese Government

A teacher in Sudan is being punished because she had her students pick a name for a teddy bear. They had chosen "Muhammad". However, she assumed it was fine, until she got in trouble.

Some one had sent a letter that you can amend if you like to send to the Sudanese Government to help stop her punishment.

Many Muslims do not agree with the fact she is being punished and how the whole thing is being handled.

Email sent:
Here is a quick draft letter. Please feel free to amend. Please feel free to reply if you feel you would like to sign or you would like to sign as an individual.

In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

Greetings of Peace to the Sudanese Government,

We the undersigned were very concerned to hear the news of the British Teacher's plight this week in Sudan.

As Muslim Educators from around the globe, we felt deeply concerned about this teacher's treatment and condition.

It is our understanding that she consulted with her young class of students about what name they would like to give to their class bear. Understandably, they chose the name of our beloved Prophet, May the Peace and Blessings of God be Upon him.

It is clear to us that she neither meant to offend, nor to insult. Given she is not Muslim herself, she did not know that we do not give the name Mohamed to inanimate objects, or to animals in general.

In the west, the bear is regarded as symbol of endearment. Many children hug bears at night as they sleep.

We urge the Sudanese government to take this into account and use the example of the beloved Prophet in how we treat those who make mistakes without knowledge. The Prophet showered his mercy upon the man who urinated in the mosque, he bestowed his mercy upon the woman who threw garbage at him daily, and forgave those who fought in battle with him in the name of God, the All-Merciful.

As Muslim educators, we urge you to help the teacher understand what she did wrong, and help the world understand what was unacceptable to Sudan as a nation, so that healthy dialogue and understanding take place.

In Peace.