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SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Sudanese President Pardons Gillian Gibbons

Mark Alexander

Gillian Gibbons Is to Be Released After President Omar al-Bashir Grants Her a Full Pardon; She Says She Has “Great Respect” for Islam
You will respect our religion, or else! Ve av vays of making you respect it!

THE TELEGRAPH: The British teacher jailed in Sudan over a teddy bear is to be released immediately after being granted her a full pardon.

Gillian Gibbons said in a written statement that she was sorry if she had caused distress and that she has a "great respect" for Islam.

Mrs Gibbons was pardoned by President Omar al-Bashir after he held a meeting with two senior British Muslim peers, Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed, who had spent the weekend in negotiations with Sudanese officials in an effort to secure her release.
Gordon Brown welcomed the news, saying he was "delighted and relieved".

In a statement, the Prime Minister said: "Common sense has prevailed. She will be released into the care of our embassy in Khartoum after what must have been a difficult ordeal.

"Through the course of Ms Gibbons's detention I was glad to see Muslim groups across the UK express strong support for her case."

Mahzoub Faidul, the Sudanese presidential spokesman, said Mrs Gibbons would fly back to England today. Pardoned teddy teacher 'sorry' for distress >>> By Richard Holt and Caroline Gammell

BBC:
Teddy row teacher freed from jail

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
Reaction to teacher’s pardon

Mark Alexander