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Freed teacher arrives back in UK Freed teacher arrives back in UK
(10 minutes later)
A British schoolteacher jailed in Sudan for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad has returned to the UK after being freed. 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, who spent eight days in custody before being pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir. Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, spent eight days in custody before being pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir.
She flew back to London via Dubai, accompanied by British Muslim peers Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed. 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 and his girlfriend were at Heathrow Airport to greet her.
She is said to have slept for much of the journey, and told reporters: "I just want to relax, I don't want to say any more. I'm too tired." 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.
'Very worrying''Very worrying'
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 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".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 given before leaving Sudan, Mrs Gibbons said she had "not knowingly" offended anyone and was "sorry" for any distress caused.In a statement given before leaving Sudan, 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."
'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' 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.