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Teddy row teacher to be released | Teddy row teacher to be released |
(10 minutes later) | |
Teacher Gillian Gibbons is to be released from prison in Sudan after she was jailed for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | Teacher Gillian Gibbons is to be released from prison in Sudan after she was jailed for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. |
Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days by a court in Sudan. | Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days by a court in Sudan. |
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting with two British Muslim peers, Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi. | Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting with two British Muslim peers, Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "delighted and relieved" at the news and that "common sense had prevailed". | |
The BBC's Adam Mynott said Mrs Gibbons is expected to be released later on Monday. | The BBC's Adam Mynott said Mrs Gibbons is expected to be released later on Monday. |
The jailing of Mrs Gibbons has led to an international outcry and has embarrassed the government. | The jailing of Mrs Gibbons has led to an international outcry and has embarrassed the government. |
"The president has told us he has already signed the papers for her pardon," Lord Ahmed told the AP news agency. | "The president has told us he has already signed the papers for her pardon," Lord Ahmed told the AP news agency. |
Efforts applauded | |
Mr Brown said Mrs Gibbons would be released into the care of the British embassy in Khartoum. | |
"Through the course of Ms Gibbons' detention I was glad to see Muslim groups across the UK express strong support for her case. | |
Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed both travelled to Sudan | |
"I applaud the particular efforts of Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi in securing her freedom. I am also grateful to our officials for all their work behind the scenes." | |
President Omar al-Bashir has been under pressure from Sudanese hardliners to ensure Mrs Gibbons served her full sentence. | President Omar al-Bashir has been under pressure from Sudanese hardliners to ensure Mrs Gibbons served her full sentence. |
There had even been calls for a retrial and for the sentence to be increased. | There had even been calls for a retrial and for the sentence to be increased. |
Mrs Gibbons had been held in a secret location due to fears for her safety. | Mrs Gibbons had been held in a secret location due to fears for her safety. |
She was arrested after a member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education. | |
Crowds of protesters had marched in the capital Khartoum demanding a tougher sentence for her alleged crime of blasphemy. Some called for her to be executed by firing squad. | Crowds of protesters had marched in the capital Khartoum demanding a tougher sentence for her alleged crime of blasphemy. Some called for her to be executed by firing squad. |
The British politicians had meetings with Sudanese government officials, including the foreign minister, over the weekend. | The British politicians had meetings with Sudanese government officials, including the foreign minister, over the weekend. |
They had been due to return home on Monday, but announced they would stay for a third day, after indications that the weekend's "difficult" meetings had led to progress in the case. | They had been due to return home on Monday, but announced they would stay for a third day, after indications that the weekend's "difficult" meetings had led to progress in the case. |