When I hear of arrests, I usually think of banks, getaway cars, ski masks, guns, police, and Hollywood-worthy car chases (I have an active imagination).

On Nov. 26, Gillian Gibbons, an English schoolteacher working in Sudan, was arrested for insulting Islam’s prophet and for inciting hatred.

Although the usual sentence for this crime is six months in prison and 40 lashes, Gibbons was only sentenced to 15 days in prison. Thousands of protesters were outraged by this decision, and many demanded her execution.

Why?

In September, as part of a class project, students could name a teddy bear. Everyone would get to take the bear and his diary home and write about the teddy bear’s adventures with them.

The name the class chose was Mohammed, which is not only the name of the prophet, but also the most popular name in Sudan. As it turned out, the name was also that of the most popular boy in the class.

Sudan is a country with a strict Muslim government, and in Khartoum, the city where Gibbons worked, insulting the name of the prophet is a crime. Associating the name of the prophet with an animal upset a lot of Muslims.

But, if insulting the prophet’s name results in a six-month sentence and 40 lashes, why was she pardoned? On the other hand, why did the angry mobs call for her death?

It’s most likely that she was pardoned because she is not a Sudanese citizen, and it's pretty clear that she did not have bad intent.

However, I wonder why she allowed the children to use the name Mohammed. She had the responsibility to be aware of religious and cultural customs so as not to inadvertently break it, but also out of respect for her host country.

The reason many called for her death was the belief that the West is besieging Islam. Remaining feelings of anti-colonialism didn't help.

It is likely that the Sudanese government exploited these sentiments for political reasons. But I think they have lost more than they have gained.

Gillian Gibbons was simply unlucky to get caught up in the politics.

This story may seem far removed from our lives, but there are parallels. Watch what you say and do, especially when you're dealing with different cultures. But it also goes both ways. If somebody accidentally "insults" you, don't be too quick to take offense.