British teacher, Gillian Gibbons, 54, appeared on Thursday at a Sudanese courthouse facing charges of insult towards Islam and incitement to religious hatred for allowing a teddy bear to be named Muhammad, just like the prophet.

The hearing in Khartoum’s criminal court took place behind closed doors. Mrs. Gibbons was wearing loose fitting dark clothes and looked well.

The court was surrounded by riot police.

Four local photographers and cameramen were detained by police, and then were ordered to leave, thus banning them from taking pictures of Gibbons.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that Gibbons has made an “innocent mistake.”

According to officials, Gibbons could be trialed immediately or another date could be set for later proceedings, AFP reports.  

The head of the Khartoum criminal investigation unit, General Abideen Tahar, said that Gibbons was well treated. On Wednesday she spent two hours with her lawyer.

He said: "We expect the judgment to be fair; the defendant was treated well because she is a woman and a teacher. Police have full control of the security around the court and are ready to contain any security breach.”

She could face a sentence of six month to jail, 40 lashes and a fine, for violating Article 125 of the penal code, which refers to public insult or denigration of any religion, its rituals, beliefs or humiliation of its believers.

The severity of the sentence will be determined by a judge.

Gibbons was arrested on Sunday for allowing pupils in her class name a teddy bear, Muhammad. Some parents complained about this saying that she has insulted Muslims by doing such a thing.

Miliband said to reporters before meeting Sudan’s ambassador to London: "The Sudanese legal system has to take its course, but common sense has to prevail.”

Gibbons' behavior was denounced by the Committee of Ulemas in Sudan and a full investigation was demanded to see who was responsible for this and asked the Education Ministry to do more in order to protect Muslim pupils.