KHARTOUM , Sudan ( CNN ) -- In an effort to shut down Khartoum 's Unity High School , a disgruntled former employee alerted Sudanese officials that a British teacher had allowed her class to name a teddy bear `` Mohammed , '' a British source and Sudanese presidential palace source told Time magazine 's Sam Dealey . An undated amateur photo shows Gillian Gibbons , who was jailed for allowing children to name a teddy bear `` Mohammed '' . Gillian Gibbons , 54 , was convicted last week of insulting religion and sentenced to 15 days in jail and deportation . Sudan 's President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her from her prison sentence on Monday and she later left on a flight for England . The two sources said Sarah Khawad was fired as the school 's secretary in November after an employment spat and threatened to shut down the school . The sources said Khawad did not appear to have a vendetta against Gibbons , but hoped that by bringing the teddy bear incident to the education minister 's attention , he would close down the school for anti-Islamic teachings . Watch Time magazine 's Sam Dealey 's report on the pardon » . The private school was shut down after the controversy came to light last week . It is unclear if it will reopen . Although there is no ban in the Quran on images of Allah or the Prophet Mohammed , Islam 's founder , some Muslims consider likenesses highly offensive . The sources said they have confirmed the account with Gibbons . Defense attorneys confirmed that it was Khawad who launched the initial complaint against Gibbons , not a parent as originally thought . Khawad also testified at Gibbons ' trial . Before approaching Sudan 's education minister , the two sources said Khawad tried to enlist two parents , who were also teachers at the school , to join in her protest against the teddy bear 's name , but they declined . Gibbons had been working at the school -- popular with wealthy Sudanese and expatriates -- since August , after leaving her position as deputy head teacher at a primary school in Liverpool this summer , said the head of Unity High School , Robert Boulos . She had asked her class of 7-year-olds to come up with a name for the toy as part of a school project , he said . Classmates took turns taking the teddy bear home with them , accompanied by a diary with the bear 's name written in the front of it , he said . She was taken into custody on November 25 and tried days later in a Sudanese court . She was cleared of other charges of inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs . Gibbons had initially faced the possibility of 40 lashes and a six-month jail term for insulting Islam . The incident sparked a diplomatic row , with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband calling on his Sudanese counterpart to dismiss the charges . Two British lawmakers , both Muslims , traveled to Khartoum to help secure her release . It also resulted in angry protests in Khartoum , with some calling for the British woman 's execution . E-mail to a friend .
Disgruntled ex-employee said teacher let class name teddy `` Mohammed '' Sources : Sarah Khawad trying to shut down Khartoum 's Unity High School . Briton Gillian Gibbons convicted of insulting religion released from jail . Gillian Gibbons taken to British Embassy in Khartoum to await flight home .