Sunday, February 17, 2008

What a trooper

Everyone recalls the recent story about the teacher who was run out of Sudan on threat of death for allowing her class to name a teddy bear "Mohammed" (pbuh!). Well, the indefatigable Ms. Gibbons has made a new career move -- she's off to teach in China:
"Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Aigburth, Liverpool, was spared flogging but was sentenced to 15 days in custody after being convicted of insulting Islam.

She was pardoned after eight days by President Omar al-Bashir last December.

Mrs Gibbons will take up the 18-month post, at an English speaking school near Beijing, in two weeks."
Some would suggest that this might be kind of a lateral move because, like Sudan, China isn't exactly a beacon of free expression and human rights. But at least there's this: unlike Sudan, China is an officially atheist country, with no state-sanctioned religion. Gibbons might be onto something.