Where Is The Feminist Outrage Over Jailing Of British Woman In Sudan?

Deneen Borelli, a fellow with Project 21, a black conservative American group, is condemning the jailing and likely deportation of a female British teacher in Sudan because she allowed the children in her class to name a teddy bear "Muhammed." Ms. Borelli is also critical of American feminists for what she calls their uncharacteristic silence on this issue.

Gillian Gibbons was arrested and tried in Khartoum, Sudan this week after a secretary at the Unity High School where Ms. Gibbons taught reported her to Sudanese authorities. The teddy bear in question was being used as a learning aid to teach the children about animals and their habitats. Charged with violating Article 125 of the Sudanese constitution, which prohibits insulting religion and inciting hatred, Ms. Gibbons faced maximum sentences of 40 lashes, a fine and up to a year in jail. She was sentenced to 15 days in jail and is expected to be deported upon her release.

"It's shocking that the Sudanese government considers the mere naming of a stuffed animal as a violation of its constitution and a punishable offense," said Ms. Borelli. "The overreaction by the Sudanese government should not go unchallenged by the U.S. This is especially true when our tax dollars in foreign aid are effectively used to support these extreme actions."

When queried by Fox News Channel about their reaction to Ms. Gibbons' arrest, a spokesperson for the National Organization for Women said the group was monitoring the situation but would not be issuing a statement or taking an official position on the matter. This is contrary to past international activism by the group in countries such as Mexico and Afghanistan, the support of a United Nations treaty on women's rights and cosponsorship of an International Women's Day delegation to Venezuela last year.

Tammy Bruce, a moderate-liberal commentator and former NOW official in Los Angeles, told Fox News Channel: "The supposed feminist establishment is refusing to take a position in this regard [on the Gibbons arrest] because they have no sensibility of what is right anymore. They're afraid of offending people. They are bound by political correctness." "I'm amazed by the silence of the so-called women's rights groups like NOW," added Ms. Borelli. "This is an example of their selective feminist outrage. When it fits their liberal agenda and bias, they are extremely vocal. When it doesn't, their silence is deafening."