Teddy Bear Gillian Gibbons Teacher Pardoned

Pardoned Teacher 'Sad To Leave Sudan'
Updated:08:46, Monday December 03, 2007

A British teacher locked up for naming a teddy bear Mohammed has said she is 'sad to be leaving Sudan' after being granted a full presidential pardon


Gillian Gibbons is expected to be freed from prison within the hour and may be back in Britain within 36 hours

Sudanese president Omar al Bashir, the only one who could order the release of the teacher, cleared the teacher after meeting two British Muslim representatives

Speaking from Khartoum, reporter Rob Crilly said: "She will be spirited away as soon as possible - the whole thing has become an embarrassment for the government

"I think it will be impossible for her to continue teaching in Sudan"

Conservative peer Baroness Warsi and Labour peer Lord Ahmed had travelled to the country to lobby for the early release of Mrs Gibbons, who was handed a 15-day jail sentence

Inayat Bunglawala, spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "If it is confirmed, obviously this is wonderful news

"Gillian should never have been arrested in the first place, let alone held in jail. She had done nothing wrong.

"It will be wonderful to see her back in the UK

"I am sure she will be welcomed by both Muslims and non-Muslims after her quite terrible ordeal at the hands of the Sudanese authorities."

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