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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK teacher jailed over teddy row | UK teacher jailed over teddy row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A British teacher has been found guilty in Sudan of insulting religion after she allowed her primary school class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | A British teacher has been found guilty in Sudan of insulting religion after she allowed her primary school class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. |
| Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported. | Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, has been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported. |
| She had been accused on three counts of insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. | She had been accused on three counts of insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. |
| The Foreign Office said it was extremely disappointed by the verdict.Her lawyer says she will now appeal. | |
| The Sudanese ambassador is being called back to the Foreign Office to explain the decision. Officials there say the mood has changed as a result of the verdict. | The Sudanese ambassador is being called back to the Foreign Office to explain the decision. Officials there say the mood has changed as a result of the verdict. |
| Staff complaint | Staff complaint |
| Earlier, Foreign Secretary David Miliband had met the Sudanese ambassador to discuss the case, stressing it was an "innocent misunderstanding". | Earlier, Foreign Secretary David Miliband had met the Sudanese ambassador to discuss the case, stressing it was an "innocent misunderstanding". |
| The prime minister, Sudanese embassy officials in London and UK Muslim organisations also expressed the hope that Mrs Gibbons would be released. | The prime minister, Sudanese embassy officials in London and UK Muslim organisations also expressed the hope that Mrs Gibbons would be released. |
| But Sudan's top clerics had called for the full measure of the law to be used against Mrs Gibbons and labelled her actions part of a Western plot against Islam. | But Sudan's top clerics had called for the full measure of the law to be used against Mrs Gibbons and labelled her actions part of a Western plot against Islam. |
| She could have faced up to 40 lashes. | She could have faced up to 40 lashes. |
| In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats. | In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats. |
| The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education. | The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education. |
| It's a very fair verdict Robert BoulosDirector of Unity High School | It's a very fair verdict Robert BoulosDirector of Unity High School |
| The school's director Robert Boulos told the AP news agency: "It's a very fair verdict, she could have had six months and lashes and a fine, and she only got 15 days and deportation." | The school's director Robert Boulos told the AP news agency: "It's a very fair verdict, she could have had six months and lashes and a fine, and she only got 15 days and deportation." |
| He said Mrs Gibbons would only serve another 10 days in prison having already spent five in custody since her arrest. | He said Mrs Gibbons would only serve another 10 days in prison having already spent five in custody since her arrest. |
| Prosecutor general Salah Eddin Abu Zaid had said Mrs Gibbons could expect a "swift and fair trial". | |
| The Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones - who knows Mrs Gibbons - told BBC News 24 how he felt about the court's decision. | The Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones - who knows Mrs Gibbons - told BBC News 24 how he felt about the court's decision. |
| ''Obviously relief that there won't be the public lashing which everybody feared, but deep disappointment because this was clearly a mistake and I know that the Muslim community here in Liverpool will be as disappointed as anybody," Bishop Jones said. | ''Obviously relief that there won't be the public lashing which everybody feared, but deep disappointment because this was clearly a mistake and I know that the Muslim community here in Liverpool will be as disappointed as anybody," Bishop Jones said. |
| "I think, too, a real anxiety that something like this so badly handled in this way [and] won't do anything to build up good relations between the faith communities.'' | "I think, too, a real anxiety that something like this so badly handled in this way [and] won't do anything to build up good relations between the faith communities.'' |