— Justice in Florida for Rifqa Bary – by Phyllis Chesler — follow-up hearing September 3rd
— FOX News: Runaway Christian Convert to Stay in Florida for Now, Judge Rules
— WESH News: Runaway Convert To Stay In Fla. For Now
— WFTV News: Judge Decides Runaway Convert Will Stay In Fla.
— WDBO Local News Blog from Juvenile Court: Rifqa Bary hearing
— Orlando Sentinel: Rifqa Bary: Judge says 17-year-old convert Rifqa Bary must stay in Florida
— Jawa Report: CAIR formulates media strategy on Rifqa Bary
— Florida Governor’s Office Replies on Rifqa Bary Case
Rifqa Bary, 17 - reports say she is threatened with death by her family in Ohio for converting from Islam to Christianity
Runaway Christian Convert to Stay in Florida for Now, Judge Rules
FOX News:
— “A 17-year-old runaway who claims she fled her Muslim family’s home in Ohio because she feared becoming the victim of an ‘honor killing’ will stay in Florida — temporarily — a judge ruled Friday.”
— “Rifqa Bary, a Christian convert whose parents are Muslim immigrants from Sri Lanka, will remain in foster care in Florida until another hearing is held Sept. 3.”
— “The teenager disappeared last month and police used phone and computer records to track her to the Rev. Blake Lorenz, pastor of Orlando, Fla.-based Global Revolution Church, who she had met through an online Facebook prayer group.”
— “Rifqa fled to Florida after her parents, Mohamed and Aysha Bary, learned that she was baptized earlier this year without their knowledge. The parents reported her missing to Columbus Police on July 19. Weeks later, using cell phone and computer records, police tracked the girl to the Rev. Blake Lorenz, pastor of the Orlando-based Global Revolution Church. FOXNews.com’s calls to Lorenz were not returned.”
— “Florida’s Gov. Charlie Crist issued the following statement on Friday in response to the judge’s decision, “I am grateful to Circuit Judge Daniel Dawson for his decision to grant Fathima Rifqa Bary the right to remain in Florida. The first and only priority of my administration is the safety and wellbeing of this child. I am grateful for the good work of Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon and my General Counsel, Rob Wheeler, for personally advocating the administration’s position by attending today’s hearing. We will continue to fight to protect Rifqa’s safety and wellbeing as we move forward.”
— “In an emotional six-minute interview with WFTV in Florida, Rifqa, who met Lorenz through an online Facebook group, said she expects to be killed if she is forced to return to Ohio.”
— ” ”If I had stayed in Ohio, I wouldn’t be alive,’ she said. ‘In 150 generations in family, no one has known Jesus. I am the first — imagine the honor in killing me.’ ‘”
— “‘There is great honor in that, because if they love Allah more than me, they have to do it. It’s in the Koran,’ said in the interview, which has been posted on YouTube.”
— “Rifqa, who is seen wearing a large diamond cross during the interview, said she had to hide her Bible ‘for years,’ and she repeatedly ‘snuck out’ to attend Christian prayer meetings. She referred to previous victims of so-called honor killings, in which young Muslim women were murdered for bringing dishonor to their families.”
— ” ”They love God more than me, they have to do this,’ Bary told WFTV. “I’m fighting for my life. You guys don’t understand.… I want to worship Jesus freely, that’s what I want. I don’t want to die.’ ”
WESH News: Runaway Convert To Stay In Fla. For Now
— “The judge also said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will look into the teenager’s claims on the request of the Department of Children and Families and ordered all parties into mediation.”
— “Rifqa made a statement in court where she said she loves her family, but repeated her fears that she would be killed if returned home. She said she converted to Christianity four years ago.”
— “Demonstrators gathered before the hearing in support of Rifqa staying in Florida with a foster family.”
— “‘Honor killing is not a joke,’ said Usama Dadok, who says he’s a Muslim evangelist specialist speaker. ‘It’s real, it’s practiced, it’s fact in the Koran.'”
— “He said he would rather see the teenager in a foster home than with her family.”
Orlando Sentinel:
— “A 17-year-old runaway who doesn’t want to return to her Muslim family in Ohio must stay in Florida, an Orange County judge decided this afternoon.”
— “Fathima Rifqa Bary was ordered to stay in Florida as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launches an investigation into her family and the Muslim community in Ohio where she lives.”
— “The girl has said her father would harm her because she converted to Christianity — a charge the father denies.”
— “This afternoon’s ruling came after a hearing in juvenile court and a surprise meeting between the teen and George Sheldon, head of the Florida Department of Children and Families.”
— “It also came after a prominent South Florida lawmaker demanded the judge not order the runaway to rejoin her Muslim family in Columbus, Ohio.”
— “House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton, issued a statement that echoed much of what protesters said this morning outside of the Orange County juvenile courthouse.
— “However, Hasner said he has been in ‘direct communication’ with the Attorney General’s office and Sheldon because the teen’s life must be ‘safeguarded,’ his statement said.”
— “The girl says she fled because her father had threatened to kill her because she’d converted to Christianity. Her father says she has nothing to fear.”
— “Her family has already agreed to allow her to live with a foster family there.”
— “‘No one should have to fear for their lives because of their religious choices,’ Hasner said in his statement. ‘I urge the court to reject the motion to relinquish custody to Ohio where she may face imminent harm from her family and community if forced to return. I fully support all legal efforts being taken to guarantee the permanent safety of this child’s life.'”
See related reports:
— Florida: Human Rights Group Urges You to Contact Florida Governor, Florida Dept of Children and Family on Rifqa Bary Case
— Court Expected to Send Runaway Teen Home Despite Muslim Honor Killing Fears — Rifqa Bary
— Florida: Ohio Girl Says Family Threatens to Kill Her for Converting from Islam to Christianity