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Teacher speaks of Sudan 'ordeal' Teacher speaks of Sudan 'ordeal'
(10 minutes later)
A British teacher jailed in Sudan for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad has spoken of her "ordeal", after returning to the UK.A British teacher jailed in Sudan for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad has spoken of her "ordeal", after returning to the UK.
Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, had spent eight days in custody for insulting Islam before eventually being pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir.Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, had spent eight days in custody for insulting Islam before eventually being pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir.
She said she was in "total shock" but was "well treated in prison and everyone was very kind to me".She said she was in "total shock" but was "well treated in prison and everyone was very kind to me".
Mrs Gibbons' son and his girlfriend were at Heathrow Airport to greet her. Mrs Gibbons' son John was at Heathrow Airport to greet her.
She arrived back to London via Dubai shortly after 0700 GMT, accompanied by British Muslim peers Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed, and is said to have slept for much of the journey.She arrived back to London via Dubai shortly after 0700 GMT, accompanied by British Muslim peers Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed, and is said to have slept for much of the journey.
'Fabulous time''Fabulous time'
Mrs Gibbons, a mother-of-two, was arrested on 25 November and later given a 15 day sentence after being convicted of insulting religion for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Mrs Gibbons, a mother-of-two, was arrested on 25 November and later given a 15-day sentence after allowing her pupils to hold a vote and choose the name Muhammad, the same name as the Islamic Prophet, for a teddy bear.
TEDDY ROW TEACHER TIMELINE Sept: Gillian Gibbons' class votes to name a teddy bear Muhammad25 Nov: She is arrested for allegedly insulting Islam's Prophet28 Nov: Mrs Gibbons is charged with insulting religion and inciting hatred29 Nov: A Sudanese court finds her guilty of insulting Islam and sentences her to 15 days in prison and deportation1 Dec: Two British Muslim peers press Sudanese officials to pardon her3 Dec: Mrs Gibbons is pardoned by Sudan's president and freed from prison4 Dec: Mrs Gibbons arrives back in the UK But, after a meeting with Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed, the press office of President al-Bashir announced that he had pardoned Mrs Gibbons and that she had been released after "mediation".TEDDY ROW TEACHER TIMELINE Sept: Gillian Gibbons' class votes to name a teddy bear Muhammad25 Nov: She is arrested for allegedly insulting Islam's Prophet28 Nov: Mrs Gibbons is charged with insulting religion and inciting hatred29 Nov: A Sudanese court finds her guilty of insulting Islam and sentences her to 15 days in prison and deportation1 Dec: Two British Muslim peers press Sudanese officials to pardon her3 Dec: Mrs Gibbons is pardoned by Sudan's president and freed from prison4 Dec: Mrs Gibbons arrives back in the UK But, after a meeting with Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed, the press office of President al-Bashir announced that he had pardoned Mrs Gibbons and that she had been released after "mediation".
Mrs Gibbons said the incident had "all come as a huge shock to me" and that going to prison was "terrifying" although she never actually spent any time in the Omdurman women's jail.Mrs Gibbons said the incident had "all come as a huge shock to me" and that going to prison was "terrifying" although she never actually spent any time in the Omdurman women's jail.
She said: "I never imagined this would happen. I am just an ordinary primary school teacher.She said: "I never imagined this would happen. I am just an ordinary primary school teacher.
"I am very sorry to leave Sudan. I had a fabulous time. It is a beautiful place and I had a chance to see some of the countryside."I am very sorry to leave Sudan. I had a fabulous time. It is a beautiful place and I had a chance to see some of the countryside.
"The Sudanese people I found to be extremely kind and generous and until this happened I only had a good experience.""The Sudanese people I found to be extremely kind and generous and until this happened I only had a good experience."
"I wouldn't like to put anyone off going to Sudan."I wouldn't like to put anyone off going to Sudan.
"I would like to thank Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi and I would like to thank all the people who have worked so hard to secure my release and make my time more bearable.""I would like to thank Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi and I would like to thank all the people who have worked so hard to secure my release and make my time more bearable."
Mrs Gibbons said she was treated the same as other Sudanese prisoners and that the Ministry of Interior sent her a bed, which was "the best present".
'Minor error'
When asked if she was going to continue as a teacher, Mrs Gibbons said: "I'm looking for a job - I am jobless."
The teacher's local MP, Louise Ellman, has welcomed Mrs Gibbons' return but said the jail sentence "should never have happened".The teacher's local MP, Louise Ellman, has welcomed Mrs Gibbons' return but said the jail sentence "should never have happened".
"The original incident was something very innocent and then what should have been seen as a minor error - and certainly a very innocent one - suddenly became blown up into something extremely important and the whole thing has been very, very worrying and quite horrendous.""The original incident was something very innocent and then what should have been seen as a minor error - and certainly a very innocent one - suddenly became blown up into something extremely important and the whole thing has been very, very worrying and quite horrendous."
'Under pressure'
Downing Street said Prime Minister Gordon Brown had spoken to Mrs Gibbons upon her arrival in the UK.Downing Street said Prime Minister Gordon Brown had spoken to Mrs Gibbons upon her arrival in the UK.
He is said to be pleased that she had returned, wished her well and had also made clear to her that the government stood ready to provide whatever further assistance she may require.He is said to be pleased that she had returned, wished her well and had also made clear to her that the government stood ready to provide whatever further assistance she may require.
Mrs Gibbons' son John earlier said his family had been "under a lot of pressure" but added that he was "very pleased" his mother was returning home. Mrs Gibbons' son John, from Wavertree, Liverpool, earlier said his family had been "under a lot of pressure" but added that he was "very pleased" his mother was returning home.
President al-Bashir had been under pressure from Sudanese hardliners to ensure Mrs Gibbons served her full sentence, while others called for a retrial and for the sentence to be increased. Jonah Fisher, former BBC Khartoum correspondent, said that the arrest of Mrs Gibbons must have seemed like an easy opportunity to give Sudan's former colonial masters a bloody nose.
On Friday crowds of protesters marched in the capital Khartoum demanding tougher punishment for her alleged crime of blasphemy. Some called for her to be executed by firing squad. But in actuality, it appears to be Sudan's President al-Bashir who has been left with a red face, he added.