In Columbus, Ohio, in the case of Muslim-to-Christian convert girl, Rifqa Bary, a Franklin County Juvenile Court Magistrate Mary Goodrich granted findings that would her to apply for “special immigrant juvenile status,” by Tuesday August 10, 2010, when she turns 18.

For the past year, since August 11, 2009, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has been reporting and active in the case of Christian convert Rifqa Bary, who alleged on August 11, 2009 that her Muslim parents in Ohio threatened her with death for her religious freedom to convert from Islam to Christianity.  There has been concern of her safety in America and concerns that if she was returned to Sri Lanka as an undocumented illegal alien that her safety may be in jeopardy, due to the alleged threats.

Her parents refute the claims of such a threat.  The Columbus Dispatch reports that “Rifqa continues to say that she is afraid of her parents, who have maintained that they love her and wouldn’t hurt her.”

Rifqa Bary had fled from Columbus, Ohio to Florida because of her fears.  In October 2009, Rifqa Bary told the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) she was abused, and was supposed to have an arranged marriage. However, a Florida judge decided to return her to Columbus, Ohio to resolve the dispute with her parents, which has been ongoing since October 2009.

Regarding the latest court findings, the Columbus Dispatch quoted a member of the Ohio attorney general’s office, Ken Robinson, on the matter, stating: “An allegation of abuse is not usually sufficient. Still, immigration officials might be more lenient toward Rifqa, given the high-profile nature of her case, Robinson said.”

On November 13, 2009, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) held its own public awareness event on the campus of Ohio University and in the streets of Columbus, Ohio, where Rifqa Bary lives, in support of our universal human rights of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience for all people.

While some groups, such as the Dove World Outreach Center (that plans to burn Qur’ans) and others have sought to hold public awareness events to spread hate and condemn Islam, R.E.A.L. has held such events to promote our religious freedom for all faiths and identity groups.

Women’s rights activist Phyllis Chesler wrote on August 5, 2010: “Kudos To The Legal Team of Angela Lloyd and Kort Gatterdam… She arrived  here as an undocumented Muslim. Nevertheless, lawyers in both Florida and Ohio stepped forward to protect and defend her. The system-we-love-to-hate appointed these lawyers. No angry grassroots group, no Christian activist association did what the American state did: Actually pay for it all.”

The Executive Director of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group has had different views on the Rifqa Bary legal team stating that it was an “inept, self-promoting, failed legal strategy,” led by “a clown,” “makes excuses for failure,” and “did not understand was the nature of the threat.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people.  R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred towards identity groups and specific religions.

R.E.A.L. hopes for healing, peace, and safety in the case of Rifqa Bary.  We recognize that this decision is not the end of her struggles, and we hope the immigration courts ultimately grant her sanctuary in the United States of America. We defend her and all others’ universal human rights.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Update: On August 10, 2010, Rifqa Bary turned 18 years old and Franklin County Children Services’ custody of her ended. In September 2010, Rifqa received permanent residence status and can apply for United States citizenship once she turns 23.

Update: On September 19 2014, the Columbus Dispatch reported that: “In a news release, publisher WaterBrook Press said Bary is now a college student living in an undisclosed location and still convinced her life is under threat.”