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UK teacher Gillian Gibbons freed from Sudan jail

Monday, 03 December 2007

UK teacher Gillian Gibbons freed from Sudan jail

British teacher Gillian Gibbons, who has been at the centre of a row because she had allowed her class in Sudan to name a teddy Muhammad, has been released from prison and handed over to British officials at the embassy in Khartoum.

Gillian Gibbons, 54, who comes from Liverpool, had been let go four days after she was given a 15-day sentence.

Gillian Gibbons was arrested on 25 November after another member of staff at Unity High School in Sudan had made a complaint to the Ministry of Education about the incident in September.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir had decided to release her after talks with two British Muslim peers Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed.

Gillian Gibbons is reported to have apologised for "any distress" she had caused and said: said: "I have great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone and I am sorry if I caused any distress."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was "delighted" with the outcome of the affair and Gillian Gibbons’ release.

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