Note to self: Never teach in Sudan.

A few days ago, controversy broke out as a 54-year old British school teacher in Sudan was arrested for allowing her 1st Grade students to name the class’ teddy bear “Muhammad,” something which, apparently, is considered severe blasphemy. Before you exhale in relief that, finally, another evil blasphemer has been brought to justice, it should be noted that the teacher, Ms Gibbons, had no intentions to insult Islam. In fact, no one, not the children, their parents or even fellow Muslim teachers felt that the project was offensive or blasphemous.

Fellow teachers at Khartoum’s Unity High School told Reuters news agency they feared for Ms Gibbons’ safety after receiving reports that men had started gathering outside the police station where she was being held.

The school’s director, Robert Boulos, said: “This is a very sensitive issue. We are very worried about her safety.

“This was a completely innocent mistake. Miss Gibbons would have never wanted to insult Islam.”

Mr Boulos said Ms Gibbons was following a British national curriculum course designed to teach young pupils about animals and this year’s topic was the bear.

Recently, things seem to have only gotten worse.

Yep, Ms Gibbons has been officially charged with, quote, “inciting hatred and insulting religion.” Let that be a lesson to anyone else who has plans to give a stuffed bear perhaps the most common given name in the world.

I’ve had a facetious tone so far, but in truth I’m justifiably worried for Ms Gibbons’ safety, as I imagine everyone who isn’t a Sudanese official may be. The penalty for her “misdeeds” range from a simple fine to lashing. Yes, lashing.

I can only hope that international authorities manage to step in, although I find that fairly unlikely. This, if anything, is the reason why we have a separation of church and state. The world seems to be a scary, brutal place without it.