Gillian Gibbons in an exclusive interview on "Good Morning America." (ABC News)

Teddy bear row teacher will start a new job in China

A Liverpool teacher who was jailed in Sudan for calling a teddy bear Mohammed, is preparing to start a new job at a school in China, reports Michael Ireland, chief correspondent, ASSIST News Service.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), said Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Aigburth, Liverpool, was spared flogging but was sentenced to 15 days in custody after being convicted of insulting Islam. She was pardoned after eight days by President Omar al-Bashir last December.

The BBC said Mrs Gibbons will take up the 18-month post, at an English speaking school near Beijing, in two weeks.

Her friend, Gill Langworthy, said Mrs Gibbons had not been put off by her experience in Sudan. She added, "Hopefully this time she won't end up in prison.

"Gillian is really excited, she's a bit nervous, but excited. She has not let things put her off."

Mrs Gibbons also said she had not ruled out working in a Muslim country again at some point.

The divorced mother of two was freed after two British Muslim peers flew to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to champion her cause.

Her treatment caused international outrage, with British Muslim groups describing it as excessive.

Gillian jets off to China this weekend. She said: “My attitude is bad things can happen wherever you are.

“I’m a bit of a traveler and an adventurer. But there won’t be any bears because I’ll be teaching a different year group.”

Recalling her drama, she added: “Obviously when you go to another country it could take a lifetime to learn about.

“But I wasn’t as naive as some people made me out to be.”

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[02/18/2008]

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