Talks seek jailed teacher's release

12 April 2012

A Muslim peer lobbying for the early release of jailed British teacher Gillian Gibbons in Sudan said she was "hopeful" a resolution could be reached.

Baroness Warsi is in the country with fellow peer Lord Ahmed in a private bid to secure Mrs Gibbons' release.

The teacher was sentenced to 15 days imprisonment by a Sudanese court on Thursday for insulting Islam after allowing her class of seven-year-olds to call a teddy bear Mohammed. She has released a statement saying she has been "well treated".

The two peers are continuing high-level talks with Sudanese government officials to press their case for Mrs Gibbons to be freed.

It is hoped they will be granted a meeting with the country's president Omar al-Bashir, who has the power to pardon Mrs Gibbons.

Mrs Gibbons' chief defence lawyer has said he expected her to be pardoned following the peers' visit.

Baroness Warsi said she had seen Mrs Gibbons and she was "doing very well". The British Ambassador has also visited Mrs Gibbons, spending just over an hour with her, the Foreign Office said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Mrs Gibbons has confirmed she is being treated well and is in a comfortable and secure environment. Mrs Gibbons' welfare remains our priority and we will continue to provide full consular assistance for as long as Mrs Gibbons is detained.

"Government ministers and officials in London and Sudan are continuing to do everything they can to try to resolve this consular issue as quickly as possible through intense activity on a wide range of channels."

He repeated that the visit of Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi was a valuable private initiative which complemented intense activity by ministers and officials.

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