The mother of two faces up to 40 lashes, six months in jail and a fine if she is convicted of the charges, brought under article 125 of the Sudanese criminal code.
Mrs Gibbons, of Aigburth, Liverpool, appeared in court wearing a dark blue jacket and blue skirt. The media were not allowed in.
Prosecutor general Salah Eddin Abu Zaid said she can expect a 'swift and fair trial'. She was provided with a legal defence team, as well as a private cell, mattress and blanket in detention.
He said: 'We don't think this will be a long trial, because there is only one article of the penal code to handle.'
The Sudanese court system is notoriously slow but he promised fast proceedings.
Jail conditions can be extremely poor but Mr Abu Zaid stressed that Mrs Gibbons has been provided with 'all services', including a team of lawyers and translators as well as a bed and mattress in her cell.
But British embassy spokesman Omar Daair said it was Unity High School, Mrs Gibbons' employer, which provided her defence and translators.
This morning, a Sudanese official said it was 'unlikely' Mrs Gibbons would be convicted.
Dr Khalid al-Mubarak, of the Sudanese embassy in London, said she had one of Sudan's best solicitors - Tijani al-Karib - and could appeal if found guilty
Source link: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article3207922.ece
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