SUDAN:A British teacher accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad spent her third night in a cell last night waiting to find out if she would face 40 lashes. Gillian Gibbons (54) was arrested on Sunday afternoon after her class voted to name a teddy bear Muhammad.
Colleagues and parents at the school have rallied to her support, saying it was an innocent mistake made by a teacher who had arrived in Sudan only three months earlier. They believe she may be the victim of a bigger dispute between Unity High School and Khartoum authorities over the school's prime site in the city.
Yesterday she was transferred from a local police station to the Criminal Exploration Bureau.
Meanwhile, Sudanese officials warned that Ms Gibbons could face more serious charges.
General prosecutor Salaheddin Abu Zaid said: "Questioning started yesterday and is continuing today. We are also questioning witnesses and if witnesses bring new elements to light, the charges could become more serious."
Ms Gibbons already faces 40 lashes, six months in prison or a fine if convicted of blasphemy.
Abdelrahim Ahmed Abdelrahim from the Sudan police force's Criminal Investigation Directorate said his team was questioning parents and teachers and also planned to interview children from the class.
"We are still in the preliminary stages of the investigation," he said. "She is being questioned. Then the whole matter is going to be evaluated to see whether she is going to be charged or not."
Reaction to the affair has so far been muted in Sudan, where Sharia law was imposed in 1991.
Religious leaders and politicians have avoided making statements, raising hopes that a deal can be done behind the scenes to free Ms Gibbons. For now, the former deputy head remains locked in a Sudanese cell.
Yesterday, a guard said she was struggling to cope with her days in custody.
"She is looking very sad in a room by herself and really needs some food," he said.
British officials arrived later but were turned away. They were, however, allowed to deliver bags of food and water.
"We are offering Ms Gibbons full consular services and have already visited her," said one official.
The school at the centre of the controversy remains closed to protect the security of pupils and staff. Unity High School is run along Christian lines, although most of its pupils are Muslim.