Florida court: Muslim-turned-Christian teenager must return to parents

The skinny: Rifka Bary, a 17-year-old girl from a Muslim family in Ohio, fled to Florida months ago out of fear that her family would kill her for converting to Christianity.

A Florida court just ruled that she has to return to her family in Ohio.

Seventeen-year-old Rifqa Bary left her family in Columbus, Ohio, in July and took refuge in the home of a minister in Orlando, Florida. The girl was later moved into foster care after she said in an affidavit that her Muslim father had threatened her after finding out about her conversion. Her father has denied the allegation.

In Tuesday’s ruling, Judge Daniel Dawson said it was in Bary’s best interest for her emergency custody continue in Ohio.

The transfer will not happen until the teen’s immigration status is determined, however, the judge said.

I wonder how long that will take. She’s 17 now. She’ll turn 18…when?

The ruling follows months of legal wrangling, including the affidavit from the teenager claiming that her father was pressured by the family’s mosque in Ohio to “deal with the situation,” referring to her conversion. In an earlier court filing, Rifqa Bary alleged that her father said, “If you have this Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me!” The teenager claims her father added, “I will kill you!” Mohamed Bary, 47, has denied the accusations.

Conversion makes her an apostate, which, I’ve read, is punishable by death under Muslim law.

Note to Rifka’s father, Mr. Bary: this would be a great time for you and your Muslim family to prove that all us racist ‘Murricans are wrong about Islam.

Want more info? Go read Pamela Gellar. She’s been following it closer than the layers of your average hajib.