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UK seeks teacher release in Sudan UK seeks teacher release in Sudan
(about 5 hours later)
The Foreign Office is attempting to secure the release of a British teacher jailed in Sudan for insulting religion after naming a teddy bear Muhammad.The Foreign Office is attempting to secure the release of a British teacher jailed in Sudan for insulting religion after naming 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 escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.She escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.
The Foreign Office has been in contact with Sudan's government overnight and will repeat demands for her release.The Foreign Office has been in contact with Sudan's government overnight and will repeat demands for her release.
The teacher's son John, a 25-year-old marketing consultant, told the Daily Mail the family are struggling to take in the punishment.The teacher's son John, a 25-year-old marketing consultant, told the Daily Mail the family are struggling to take in the punishment.
"It's really difficult at the moment, my head is everywhere," he said."It's really difficult at the moment, my head is everywhere," he said.
Mrs Gibbons' son added: "I don't want the verdict to lead to any anti feeling towards Muslims."Mrs Gibbons' son added: "I don't want the verdict to lead to any anti feeling towards Muslims."
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has expressed "in the strongest terms" the UK's concern at her detention.Foreign Secretary David Miliband has expressed "in the strongest terms" the UK's concern at her detention.
I have called in the Sudanese ambassador this evening to explain the decision and to discuss next steps Foreign Secretary David Miliband Reaction to verdict The prison conditions are very harsh in Sudan Jan PronkFormer UN envoy to Sudan Reaction to verdict class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3873&edition=1">Send us your comments
The Sudanese ambassador, Omer Siddiq, was called back to the Foreign Office to explain the decision. The Sudanese ambassador, Omer Siddig, was called back to the Foreign Office to explain the decision.
Officials said that during his 45-minute meeting on Thursday Mr Miliband also spoke to the Sudanese acting foreign minister for 15 minutes on the telephone.Officials said that during his 45-minute meeting on Thursday Mr Miliband also spoke to the Sudanese acting foreign minister for 15 minutes on the telephone.
"There will be further contacts overnight and tomorrow in the search for a swift resolution of this issue," the Foreign Office added. "There will be further contacts overnight and tomorrow [Friday] in the search for a swift resolution of this issue," the Foreign Office added.
Before the meeting, Mr Miliband said he was "extremely disappointed" the charges had not been dismissed and repeated his view that it had been an "innocent misunderstanding by a dedicated teacher".Before the meeting, Mr Miliband said he was "extremely disappointed" the charges had not been dismissed and repeated his view that it had been an "innocent misunderstanding by a dedicated teacher".
"Our priority now is to ensure Mrs Gibbons' welfare, and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her," he said."Our priority now is to ensure Mrs Gibbons' welfare, and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her," he said.
"I have called in the Sudanese ambassador this evening to explain the decision and to discuss next steps." 'Harsh conditions'
Staff complaint
Meanwhile, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he could not "see any justification" for the sentence, calling it an "absurdly disproportionate response" to a "minor cultural faux pas".Meanwhile, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he could not "see any justification" for the sentence, calling it an "absurdly disproportionate response" to a "minor cultural faux pas".
The former UN Special Representative to Sudan, Jan Pronk, who was expelled from the country in 2006, said it was best not to protest against the sentence.
"If you start to criticise the sentence, then you start to criticise also the sovereignty of the country itself and then you get into trouble.
"The important thing is to get the lady out as soon as possible. The prison conditions are very harsh in Sudan."
The prime minister, Sudanese embassy officials in London and UK Muslim organisations had all expressed the hope that Mrs Gibbons would be released.The prime minister, Sudanese embassy officials in London and UK Muslim organisations had all 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.
'Political circumstances'
She could have faced up to 40 lashes if found guilty on all three charges against her.She could have faced up to 40 lashes if found guilty on all three charges against her.
Chris Ball, a friend and former colleague of Mrs Gibbons, told the BBC she had been "the victim of global political circumstances" and said the guilty verdict was "devastating", although "it could have been a lot worse".Chris Ball, a friend and former colleague of Mrs Gibbons, told the BBC she had been "the victim of global political circumstances" and said the guilty verdict was "devastating", although "it could have been a lot worse".
What can't be named Muhammad? Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn SudanWhat can't be named Muhammad? Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn Sudan
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.
The BBC's Adam Mynott, in Khartoum, said Mrs Gibbons apologised to the court for any offence she may have caused.The BBC's Adam Mynott, in Khartoum, said Mrs Gibbons apologised to the court for any offence she may have caused.
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.
But Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said 15 days in a Sudanese prison for an "innocent misunderstanding" is "a serious and harsh punishment indeed".But Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said 15 days in a Sudanese prison for an "innocent misunderstanding" is "a serious and harsh punishment indeed".
The prison Mrs Gibbons is expected to be held in is mainly used to house women convicted of making and selling alcohol.
It is reported to be overcrowded, with 1,200 inmates, and sometimes 20 women and their children sharing a single cell.
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