This article is a follow up of a current event I did last week concerning a woman, who was teaching in Sudan. This woman was arrested on November 25 on a charge of blasphemy for letting a class name a teddy bear Mohammed. A protest even broke out with protesters screaming for her execution. The teacher, Gillian Gibbons, said "I am just an ordinary middle-aged primary school teacher. I went there to have a little adventure and got a bit more than I bargained for." Gibbons is from England and was just in Sudan for an experience she would never forget, sadly this was not the experience she wanted to endure. However, she was pardoned on Monday by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Worldwide, she had received support from friends and well-wishers. Her son, John was one of her biggest supporters, who was in England waiting for his mother's arrival. Gibbons made very clear she was sorry for any harm she may have done. She said she never intended to insult anyone and she does not want this occurrence to have an impact on people's decision to travel to Sudan. She described it as a beautiful place, where she had a fabulous time. The reason for her release was because of two British Muslim lawmakers, who were both members of the House of Lords. They persuaded Sudanese officials that letting the woman go would create international goodwill toward their country. Gibbons' conviction could have resulted in 40 lashes and without a pardon, she would have remained in jail another six days.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/12/04/sudan.teacher/index.html#cnnSTCText
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