Manama - An American woman working as a university lecturer in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain was charged with insulting Islam's Prophet Mohammed, local media reported Friday.

According to the report from the daily Akhbar al-Khalij, a female student at the private university where the lecture worked complained to authorities that the professor during a lesson presented a drawing of Muhammed, and in "shabby clothing."

The lecturer - when called upon to apologize - refused and instead made negative remarks concerning the accusing student's head covering.

According to the report, the accused who had already lost her university position had in the meantime "secretly left Bahrain."

In November 2007, a British school teacher in Sudan was given a prison sentence for allowing the children in her class to name a teddy bear "Mohammed."

The position of the Sudanese authorities triggered dismay worldwide including throughout the Muslim world, ultimately forcing Sudan to relent and free the teacher and allow her to leave Sudan. (dpa)