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Teddy row teacher due back in UK Freed teacher arrives back in UK
(about 3 hours later)
A British schoolteacher who was jailed in Sudan for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad is due to arrive back in the UK after being freed. A British schoolteacher jailed in Sudan for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad has returned to the UK after being freed.
Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was sentenced to 15 days in jail, but only served eight after she was pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was sentenced to 15 days in jail, but served eight before being pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir.
She is flying back to London via Dubai, accompanied by British Muslim peers Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed. She flew back to London via Dubai, accompanied by British Muslim peers Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed.
Mrs Gibbons' family and friends say they are delighted at her release. Mrs Gibbons' son and his girlfriend were at Heathrow Airport to greet her.
'Very worrying''Very worrying'
Mrs Gibbons, a mother-of-two, was arrested on 25 November and jailed four days later after being convicted of insulting religion for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad.
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".
In a statement, Mrs Gibbons said she had "not knowingly" offended anyone and was "sorry" for any distress caused.
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."
TEDDY ROW TEACHER TIMELINE Sept: Gillian Gibbons's 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 prison
Mrs Gibbons, a mother-of-two, was arrested on 25 November and jailed four days later after being convicted of insulting religion for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. 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".
In a statement, Mrs Gibbons said she had "not knowingly" offended anyone and was "sorry" for any distress caused.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the teacher was "elated" after being told of her release.
Mrs Gibbons was "a little overwhelmed", but was in "remarkably good spirits" and eager to get home as soon as possible, he added.
'Under pressure''Under pressure'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who described the imprisonment as "completely wrong", said he was "delighted" at the teacher's return and praised the efforts of Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed in securing her release.Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who described the imprisonment as "completely wrong", said he was "delighted" at the teacher's return and praised the efforts of Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed in securing her release.
Mrs Gibbons's 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 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.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.
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.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.