Archbishop welcomes British teachers pardon in Sudan

Christian Today reports the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has welcomed the pardon of the British school teacher who was jailed in Sudan for allowing her students to name the class teddy bear Mohammad.

Reuters reports [Gibbons said] "I have great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone. I am sorry if I caused any distress."

The Associated Press reports during her trial, the weeping teacher said she had intended no harm. Her students, overwhelmingly Muslim, chose the name for the bear. Muslim scholars generally agree that intent is a key factor in determining if someone has violated Islamic rules against insulting the prophet.

The Associated Press also asserts that there was no overt sign that the government organized the protest, but such a rally could not have taken place without at least official assent.