The Teddy Terror Pardoned

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has agreed to pardon Gillian Gibbons, sentenced to 15 days in prison for allowing a child to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Apparently, two Muslim members of Britain’s House of Lords flew to Sudan to negotiate her release.

This comes after news that even her 15 day sentence was deemed unsatisfactory to the public, whose chants of “death” indicated a harsher preference. One can’t help but wonder if public reaction might be outraged even further by this step.

But for the time being the news is good and we wish Gillian a safe and swift trip home. The president of Sudan has done a good thing, and I agree with UK PM Gordon Brown when he says, "common sense has prevailed.''