British teacher pardoned

KHARTOUM; Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir pardoned a British teacher yesterday who was jailed here after she allowed her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad – putting an end to a case that has outraged Britons and Muslims around the world.

Officials with al-Bashir’s office said the teacher, Gillian Gibbons, would be released later yesterday. Gibbons said she did not intend to offend anyone and stressed that she had great respect for Islam.”The president has told us he has already signed the papers for her pardon”, Lord Nazir Ahmed told reporters after a meeting with al-Bashir at his presidential palace.He and fellow Muslim representative from Britain’s House of Lords, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, had been meeting with al-Bashir to plea for Gibbons’ pardon.Sudanese presidential spokesman Mahzoub Faidul told The Associated Press that ‘Gibbons would be released today’ and will fly back to England today.However, travel agents in Sudan said the earliest European-bound flights would not leave Khartoum until the early hours today.British embassy spokesman Omar Daair said “Arrangements for her release are being made”, but he would not more provide more details for security reasons.In a written statement released by the presidential palace and read by Warsi to reporters, 54-year-old Gibbons said she was sorry if she caused any distress.”I have a great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone,” Gibbons, who was sentenced Thursday, said in the statement.”I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, but I am very sorry that I will be unable to return to Sudan” the statement read.In Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was delighted by news.”Common sense has prevailed,” Brown said in a statement released by his office.Gibbons was sentenced on Thursday to 15 days in prison and deportation for insulting Islam because she allowed her students to name a class teddy bear Muhammad, seen as a reference to Islam’s most revered figure, the Prophet Muhammad.The teacher’s conviction under Sudan’s Islamic Sharia law shocked Britons, and the British government has said it was working with Sudan’s regime to win her release.Gibbons escaped harsher punishment that could have included up to 40 lashes, six months in prison and a fine.Her time in jail since her arrest last Sunday counted toward the sentence.Nampa-APGibbons said she did not intend to offend anyone and stressed that she had great respect for Islam.”The president has told us he has already signed the papers for her pardon”, Lord Nazir Ahmed told reporters after a meeting with al-Bashir at his presidential palace.He and fellow Muslim representative from Britain’s House of Lords, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, had been meeting with al-Bashir to plea for Gibbons’ pardon.Sudanese presidential spokesman Mahzoub Faidul told The Associated Press that ‘Gibbons would be released today’ and will fly back to England today.However, travel agents in Sudan said the earliest European-bound flights would not leave Khartoum until the early hours today.British embassy spokesman Omar Daair said “Arrangements for her release are being made”, but he would not more provide more details for security reasons.In a written statement released by the presidential palace and read by Warsi to reporters, 54-year-old Gibbons said she was sorry if she caused any distress.”I have a great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone,” Gibbons, who was sentenced Thursday, said in the statement.”I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, but I am very sorry that I will be unable to return to Sudan” the statement read.In Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was delighted by news.”Common sense has prevailed,” Brown said in a statement released by his office.Gibbons was sentenced on Thursday to 15 days in prison and deportation for insulting Islam because she allowed her students to name a class teddy bear Muhammad, seen as a reference to Islam’s most revered figure, the Prophet Muhammad.The teacher’s conviction under Sudan’s Islamic Sharia law shocked Britons, and the British government has said it was working with Sudan’s regime to win her release.Gibbons escaped harsher punishment that could have included up to 40 lashes, six months in prison and a fine.Her time in jail since her arrest last Sunday counted toward the sentence.Nampa-AP