Teddy row teacher freed from Sudan jail

Dec 3 2007

LIVERPOOL teacher Gillian Gibbons was finally freed today after spending more than a week in Sudanese custody after being jailed for insulting Islam.

The 54-year-old mother-of-two was released into the care of the British embassy after the country’s president Omar al-Bashir officially pardoned her.

The dramatic move came after 48 hours of difficult negotiations between British parliamentarians Lord Ahmed of Rotherham and Baroness Warsi with officials in Khartoum.

This afternoon, Baroness Warsi said Mrs Gibbons would be in the UK by tomorrow and will fly home with her and Lord Ahmed.

Revealing that hardliners were pushing for Mrs Gibbons to face a retrial and probable tougher sentence, she said:

“By the time we landed on Saturday morning, because of the demonstrations, the situation had changed.

“Initially the meetings were hopeful but we felt very quickly the mood changed and a more hard-lined mood developing.

“People were calling for a retrial which was a very real possibility.”

The “intense” meetings culminated with discussions between the duo from the House of Lords and the president at his palace.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed the news, saying he was “delighted and relieved”.

He said in a statement: “Common sense has prevailed.

“She will be released into the care of our embassy in Khartoum after what must have been a difficult ordeal.

“Through the course of Ms Gibbons’s detention I was glad to see Muslim groups across the UK express strong support for her case.

“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.”

Mrs Gibbons, of Aigburth, Liverpool, was sentenced to the 15 days in jail and to be deported for allowing her class of seven-year-olds to call a class teddy bear Mohammed.

Her son John, 25, said: “I’ve just heard from Gordon Brown this morning. Obviously we’re very pleased.

“We’ve just got to contain our excitement until she’s on the plane. The family won’t be 100% happy until she’s on the plane.

“I’d like to thank the Government for all they have done, the hard work behind the scenes, especially the two peers who went out there. Everyone’s been really great.”

He added: “Obviously it’s a great feeling today, we’re very pleased, we have been under a lot of pressure.”

Asked if he had spoken to his mother since her release, he said no but added: “I’m sure she’ll be very pleased although quite embarrassed to be on the news permanently, but very pleased.

“It’s been a strange old week, very stressful and particularly bad for the family but now she’s coming home, fingers crossed. If this week has taught me anything it is that anything can happen.”

Plans are now being formalised for Mrs Gibbons return to the UK.

Friends delighted by news Gillian is coming home > > >