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UK seeks teacher release in Sudan UK seeks teacher release in Sudan
(9 minutes later)
The Foreign Office is attempting to secure the release of a British teacher jailed in Sudan after children in her class named a teddy bear Muhammad.The Foreign Office is attempting to secure the release of a British teacher jailed in Sudan after children in her class named a teddy bear Muhammad.
Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, received 15 days in jail for insulting religion; she will then be deported.Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, received 15 days in jail for insulting religion; she will then be deported.
She escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal. About 300 people protested against Ms Gibbons' actions in Khartoum after Friday prayers.
The Foreign Office was in contact with Sudan's government overnight and will repeat demands for her release.The Foreign Office was 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."
'Intense activity''Intense activity'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has contacted Mrs Gibbons' family for a second time, speaking to a close relative of the teacher.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has contacted Mrs Gibbons' family for a second time, speaking to a close relative of the teacher.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "We are doing all we can to ensure her release. Various intense activity is ongoing but I'm afraid it's not helpful for me to get into the detail of what that is at the moment."A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "We are doing all we can to ensure her release. Various intense activity is ongoing but I'm afraid it's not helpful for me to get into the detail of what that is at the moment."
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.
The prison conditions are very harsh in Sudan Jan PronkFormer UN envoy to Sudan Reaction to verdict 'Worst prisons in the world' Send us your commentsThe prison conditions are very harsh in Sudan Jan PronkFormer UN envoy to Sudan Reaction to verdict 'Worst prisons in the world' Send us your comments
The Sudanese ambassador, Omer Siddig, 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 [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".
"Our priority now is to ensure Mrs Gibbons' welfare, and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her," he said.
'Harsh conditions''Harsh conditions'
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".
Naming as Muhammad Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn SudanNaming as Muhammad Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn Sudan
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.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 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.
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 if found guilty on all three charges against her.
About 300 people marched through the streets of Sudanese capital Khartoum in protest against Mrs Gibbons after finishing prayers on Friday.About 300 people marched through the streets of Sudanese capital Khartoum in protest against Mrs Gibbons after finishing prayers on Friday.
Watched by police, the marchers walked through the streets waving their fists - one man waving a sword in the air - shouting "Allah is great".Watched by police, the marchers walked through the streets waving their fists - one man waving a sword in the air - shouting "Allah is great".
'Political circumstances'
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".
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.
'Political circumstances'
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."
Mrs Gibbons escaped conviction for inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, and will now appeal.
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.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.It is reported to be overcrowded, with 1,200 inmates, and sometimes 20 women and their children sharing a single cell.
Do you have a family member in prison abroad? The BBC would like to speak to you about your experience. Please use the form below to send us your details.Do you have a family member in prison abroad? The BBC would like to speak to you about your experience. Please use the form below to send us your details.
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