HOPES were rising last night for the early release of Gillian Gibbons, the British teacher jailed in Sudan for blasphemy because her pupils named their class teddy bear Mohammed.
Last night Gibbons issued a statement to Channel 4 News from her cell, saying that she was fine. “I want people to know I’ve been well treated, and especially that I’m well fed,” she said.
“I’ve been given so many apples I feel I could set up my own stall,” she added. “The guards are constantly asking if I have everything I need.
“I know the prime minister has called my son, and I’m really grateful to everyone,” Gibbons added, thanking all her well-wishers. Downing Street confirmed that Gordon Brown had spoken to a member of her immediate family.
Gibbons said that she would be sad to leave Sudan, despite her ordeal. “The Sudanese people in general have been pleasant and very generous, and I’ve had nothing but good experiences during my four months here. If I could go back to work tomorrow then I would.”
Two of Britain’s most senior Muslim politicians were in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, waiting to meet Omar al-Bashir, the country’s president.
Lord Ahmed, the Labour peer, and Baroness Warsi, the Tory spokeswoman on community cohesion, were planning to ask him to use his presidential pardon to free Gibbons from the 15-day jail sentence imposed on Thursday. British embassy sources said the peers were aiming to have Gibbons released by today or tomorrow.
Read more
Last night Gibbons issued a statement to Channel 4 News from her cell, saying that she was fine. “I want people to know I’ve been well treated, and especially that I’m well fed,” she said.
“I’ve been given so many apples I feel I could set up my own stall,” she added. “The guards are constantly asking if I have everything I need.
“I know the prime minister has called my son, and I’m really grateful to everyone,” Gibbons added, thanking all her well-wishers. Downing Street confirmed that Gordon Brown had spoken to a member of her immediate family.
Gibbons said that she would be sad to leave Sudan, despite her ordeal. “The Sudanese people in general have been pleasant and very generous, and I’ve had nothing but good experiences during my four months here. If I could go back to work tomorrow then I would.”
Two of Britain’s most senior Muslim politicians were in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, waiting to meet Omar al-Bashir, the country’s president.
Lord Ahmed, the Labour peer, and Baroness Warsi, the Tory spokeswoman on community cohesion, were planning to ask him to use his presidential pardon to free Gibbons from the 15-day jail sentence imposed on Thursday. British embassy sources said the peers were aiming to have Gibbons released by today or tomorrow.
Read more
No comments:
Post a Comment