Teacher charged over teddy bear 'insult'

A British teacher has been charged by Sudanese authorities with insulting religion and inciting hatred, it was confirmed today.

Gillian Gibbons allowed her seven-year-old pupils at the Unity School in Khartoum to name their class teddy bear Mohammed.

She was arrested on Sunday after a complaint was made to the Sudanese Ministry of Education.

A British foreign office spokesman said: “I can confirm Gillian Gibbons has been charged under article 125 of the Sudanese Criminal Code.

“The charges are insulting religion and inciting hatred.”