Sudan

EI expresses relief at the release of UK teacher

By Education International

Education International has expressed its relief following the release of Gillian Gibbons from a Sudanese prison. Gibbons, a British teacher, was jailed for blasphemy after her students named a teddy bear Muhammad.

The President of Sudan, Omar al Bashir, granted the teacher full pardon for what is now considered "an unfortunate and unintentional misunderstanding".

EI credits the National Union of Teachers (NUT), of which Mrs Gibbons is a member, for its role in securing her release. The NUT was in constant contact with the UK Foreign Ministry and kept EI informed of the developments in the case.

EI thanks all those who contacted us to express their support for Gibbons. EI also expresses its appreciation for the discretion of member organisations that refrained from making public statements that might have complicated the sensitive negotiations for Gibbons' release.

The NSW Teachers Federation is associated to Education International through the Australian Education Union

FULL STORY

Sourced from: Education International

©2000-2002 NSWTF Online is a resource for teachers
provided by the NSW Teachers Federation.
[Authorisation of election comment] [Privacy]

http://www.nswtf.org.au/world/20071204_teddy.html
Last Modified: 04 Dec 2007