Why should it have taken two Muslim officials to secure the release of someone who has done nothing wrong?
Why didn't we send someone like the foreign secretary to the country, threatening to stop all aid if she was not released? We hold all the cards in a situation like this, and it is up to us to stand up for someone who has been a victim of a crazy regime.
As for the people who were calling for her execution, this shows how narrow minded certain people can be. I am surprised we didn't witness demonstrations in Britain similar to those that were held when the Danish artist featured Mohammed in one of his cartoons. If that had happened, would we have just sat back and let them call for her execution? Probably. It is about time Britain stood up for itself and got a grip of what is blatantly right and wrong.

Tyrone SFB, Bolton, Lancashire

Hhhmmm. For the above comments, you might want to research past British involvement in numerous killings all around the world. I think what has come out of this is a greater understanding of western cultural imperialism and how arrogant it can sometimes be.

aqua, london,

Louise Hartley of Wolverhampton, people like you are the reason we westerners have so many problems with radical Islam in our countries. By making excuses for their extremism, their intolerance of any point of view but their own, and your determination to appease the hardliners and shift the blame for their illogical "we've been insulted" behaviour onto us for not being more understanding, you are actively encouraging and applauding every attempt by them to bully and coerce us and others into submitting to their narrow view of the world, whats wrong with you people?
These hardline islamists don't just take offence at every percieved insult, they actively seek it out to test our resolve and see how far they can push us, and with westerners like you around telling us we're imperialistic by not accepting their distorted rants, they can clearly push us quite hard. Any religion that can summon up a howling mob, demanding blood, in 5 minutes and for such a ridiculous reason is downright dangerous. And don't say that they are relatively few fanatics outnumbered by the moderates, that is irrelevant because the fanatics are clearly in charge and are running the show in every country where this faith is practiced.

Jerry, London,

Wasn't the teddy bear called after Theodore Roosevelt? Perhaps the Americans should declare a jihad against the Primary School children involved.

Mia Clark, Manchester, GB

Well she made a mistake but maybe it will be a lesson for others.We need to learn to respect others values/

Dmitryi Kondrea, Kishenev, Republic Of Modlova,Europe

I'm glad she's home safe and sound but have to question why she was there in the first place. I wonder what inspires someone to go to such a country where she's obviously not wanted by a large part of the population to do something that same part of the population quite obviously don't want her to do. (IMO) This woman is yet another naive do gooder that needs to learn to remove her rose tinted spectacles before venturing out into the world. - She should also be made to pay all the expenses incurred whilst obtaining her freedom out of her own pocket. - As an ex pat Brit, I fail to see why the British taxpayer should finance her stupidity.

I also believe the UK Government should withdraw all aid to Sudan.

steve robinson, white river, south africa

Come on everyone, look through the round window at the bigger picture, who had most to gain?

It was obviously an elaborate publicity stunt by teddy to get the judges attention in the Turner Prize and once again we have fallen for the big spin headlines and the 'at any cost opportunism’.

Teddy is a self publicising egotist with his own agenda, do not be fooled by the big chestnut cuddle me eyes. Sometimes I think we get the teddys we deserve.

Chris, Stockport, UK

Her fight seems to be quite long...
Glads she's home anyway.

Rob h, Hull, United Kingdom

One good thing to have come out of this is that it has made many people better understand what flows from Islam and the desperate need for it to be banned in Britain.

Anybody who doesn't like that idea should emigrate to Sudan and not come back.

Herbert Thornton, Victoria, Canada

Louise Hartley, you must be joking about "social sensitivities" abroad? These same Islamic extremists appear to be allowed to march in British streets, burn Union Flags and pictures of politicians. Some were recently using a state funded community radio station to send messages of support to convicted terrorists in Belmarsh.

It's clearly time to stop being naive, stop affording these zealots every grace and favour our society has to offer... when elements of the same religion and value system call for the execution of a woman who, while helping, made an innocent mistake.

colin wilson, Glasgow,

I'm not so sure she should have been released. I don't think the UK government had any formal powers to have her pardoned and although I welcome President Bashir's decision I think it is probably not good to go against social sensitivities in this manner. I don't understand how people could claim she is entitled to special treatment and I find it sad that this teaches people entirely the wrong lessons about how to behave abroad in another culture. It harms diplomatic relations between countries, yes, but we cannot go around abusing the hospitality of the nations in which we live. Ms Gibbons had full responsibility for her actions and should not have allowed the children to call the bear Mohammed, even if it was named after a child in her class rather than the Prophet. The West should allow Sudan to have its own arguments in its own time rather than enforce a particular code on them, which is culturally imperialistic and would harm relations more in the long run.

Louise Hartley, Wolverhampton, UK

Where are the so-called reasonable Islamists to condemn this Middle Age aberration? It appears to me the average Muslim is too scared to voice an opinion. But then, that's what religion is all about isn't it? No wonder this world has so many conflicts.

Albert , Calgary, AB Canada

Rigid, fundamentalist interpretations of scriptural texts are abhorrent. This case is just one more example of the knots people tie themselves and others up in when they interpret scriptural texts as 100% fact, unchangeable and not open to modern re-assessment and interpretation. These are historical documents, and have to be seen as such. The Bible and Qu'ran were written by fallible men, and contain some views and edicts no longer relevant or moral, despite the views of many believers.

bill, towoomba,

Welcome Gillian Gibbons !!!! Every one understands the difficult situation you have been in for the past week and we all know that this was not intentional thing. As being a Muslim myself I understand how serious this issue is naming a teddy bear a holy name however it can be seen as you have gone to a muslim country to help and educate children this was NEVER intentional. Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi along with the British Muslim leaders also deserve to be credited with the support they have given in this matter in helping to free Gillian Gibbons as these are the kind of people we need in our goverment supporting the people of there country.

Qasim Ali, Greater manchester, England, UK

I find it disgusting that these people wanted to execute such a mild, kind woman. She came to their country to help teach children and from the looks of it she was very soft spoken and such a peaceful person. Neither she nor her family has yet made any comments coming close to criticizing the people who treated her so barbarically after inviting her to their country.

Will, Wenzhou, China

It shows how fragile some traditins and reputations are. A solid tradition and a strong reputation are not condideree easily damaged. Perhaps this should be marked "Handle with care".

Robin Darra, Fresno, CA, 'mericuh

Tolerant societies will always be at a disadvantage when dealing with intolerant ones; many Muslims seem to exist just for the sake of displaying "outrage" over alleged slights. Ms. Gibbon is lucky to have escaped with her life. Just ask the families of Theo van Gogh, Daniel Pearl, and many orthers whose only "sins" were to try to understand and communicate.

Tasreen, London, England

Marlene, are you advocating flogging, gaol terms, or death for blasphemy directed at Christianity (whatever that means, given that it is a shifting definition depending upon who judges it)? Is that the balance you want? If not, then what are you saying?

bill, towoomba,

While I applaud her motives to try and help, and I find the whole "Mohammed" thing quite ridiculous (the kids named the bear, not her), I have to once again question ANYONE from the West who tries to help these people who really aren't in touch with reality. Charity begins at home, perhaps Ms. Gibbons and anyone silly enough to follow in her footsteps would be much wiser to help underprivileged children in their own countries.

Sally, Vancouver, Canada

The ones to be commended as a result of this incident are Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi along with the British Muslim leaders. I hope people in Britain as well as in my country (USA) can continue to pull together.

Steve Cedeno, Fremont, USA, California

It seems ironic that when the name of Jesus Christ is insulted or used in profanity and shown contempt in similar situations there is no such hue and cry. To many Christians it is an insult that people show such contempt and disregard for our great prophet and Savior, where is the balance?

Marlene, Brisbane, Qld

I'm happy to hear Mrs Gibbon is safely on her way home; in fact, she may already be there. Welcome back, Mrs G! There has been tremendous support in both the UK and the US for this woman's plight, and on the San Francisco Chronicle's web page - SFGate.com - even supportive commentary by self-declared Muslilms. I would gather the world's non-muslim peoples have found the Sudanese response to this incident as being horrendously petty and irrational. I, too, feel that way. I've no doubt there are many, many Muslims that are kind and loving and accepting, who also find the Sudanese reaction abhorent. I would encourage those moderate, modern Muslims to foment a movement among their bretheren; reinterpret the Qu'ran in a way that makes it relevant in the world of the 21st century. Beheadings and lashings and mutilation are so 6th century, way too archaic to be acceptable today. There is room for all here, but not violent radicals of any stripe who only represent hatred toward other humans.

Dan York, Kansas City, USA

Teaching is not something welcomed by those who hold the sword. Unfortunately they have developed a way of life that is adverse to common sense and basic human rights. It is hard to believe that such harsh and cruel punishments exist today over something so trivial in the broader scheme. These people need educating more than anything. It has to be difficult for the next teacher with 1000 confrontational and easily excitable Sudanese waving swords around her neck.
At least President Bashir showed some compassion.

John, Sydney, Australia

If Islam seeks to remain in the Middle Ages then it deserves all the criticism it gets. Since the word Islam means "submission" it is small wonder that Muslims don't think for themselves but mirror the hateful rhetoric of morally degenerate Imams. To think that this religion, if you can call it that now, is spreading around the world is truly frightening. Why don't Sudanese protest the thievery, killing and rape in Darfur? It is probably because these same clerics condone that violence against so called "infidels" and that Mohamed would approve. Islam was spread by the sword and history is the proof.

Oskar, San Diego, Ca. USA

Terry Waite and the others spent a lot longer chained to radiators in cellers in Beirut

barry, guangzhou, China

An article by Reuters states that this whole mess was started by a secretary who was fired by the highschool where Gibbons taught. She tried to get some parents to complain about the teddy's name, but the parents declined- so the secretary made the complaint herself. Most Sudanese were embarrased by the whole affair and a follish minority of hard core zealots dragged this affair out for a few extra days by demonstrating. If anything, this affair shows that there is indeed common sense left in the world.

Mohammad Maan, Calgary, Canada