'Muhammad bear' Briton freed
Gillian Gibbons freed after receiving presidential pardon
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Monday, 03, Dec 2007 08:27
The UK teacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her pupils to name a teddy Muhammad has been freed after receiving a presidential pardon.
Diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Gillian Gibbons had been underway since her 15-day imprisonment for insulting religion last week.
She has been transferred to the UK embassy after Sudanese president Omar al-Bashi signed the papers for the 54-year-old's release. Ms Gibbons has left Sudan and is expected to return to Britain tomorrow.
The development follows lobbying in Sudan by two British Muslim peers who travelled to Khartoum on their own initiative.
Labour's Lord Ahmed, who along with Conservative Baroness Warsi arrived in the north African country following Ms Gibbons' imprisonment, has thanked everyone who contributed to the teacher's release.
He said her conviction had been the result of an "unfortunate, unintentional" act on Ms Gibbons' part.
Muhammad is a common given name in the Muslim world but attempts to make images of the Prophet are strictly forbidden.
Last week hundreds of protestors marched in the Sudanese capital demanding for Ms Gibbons' execution.
Relations between Britain and Sudan are already strained after the UK raised the prospect of economic sanctions over Khartoum's perceived unwillingness to allow peacekeeping troops to be deployed in Darfur.
Gordon Brown said he was "delighted and relieved" to hear that Ms Gibbons was to be freed.
The prime minister explained that "common sense has prevailed".
"She will be released into the care of our embassy in Khartoum after what must have been a difficult ordeal," Mr Brown continued.
"Through the course of Ms Gibbons' 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."
In a statement relayed by Baroness Warsi, Ms Gibbons apologised for any "distress" her actions may have caused.
She said she had received nothing but "kindness and generosity" during her four months in Sudan and would "miss [her pupils] terribly".
"I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, but I am very sorry I will be unable to return to Sudan as a teacher of [my pupils]," she added.
Click here for a summary of the situation in Darfur.