A judge in Florida has determined that Ohio holds jurisdiction over the Rifqa Bary case and has ordered that the teenager be sent back to her parents in Ohio.
Rifqa's story first came to light through Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs. Geller has been a champion of women who have endured torture or been slaughtered in "honor killings" from their Muslim husbands. Not one to back away from her stance on the issue, she got the word out about Rifqa's plight.
Rifqa Bary ran away from home in Ohio in July of this year for fear of being killed by her Muslim family for converting to Christianity. Since then, a legal battle had ensued in Florida as to whether the teen should be sent back to Columbus, Ohio. Rifqa maintains that, at the very least, she will either be sent back to her family's native Sri Lanka and institutionalized or, in the worst case scenario, killed to protect family honor because she is an apostate of Islam. Bary has begged for her life and truly believes that her fate is sealed should she return to her parents.
While the transfer of custody is not immediate, it could happen within a week or by October 23, when the judge has ordered that immigration status be proven and that Rifqa be allowed to continue her virtual schooling through the Florida school she now gets her education from, receiving credit in Ohio. Once these conditions are met, she goes back.
It is expected that Rifqa will be placed in foster care in Ohio when she returns, and both her and her parents are to undergo psychiatric evaluations.
My only comment on this story? Should one hair on her head be harmed by her family or their actions, Judge Daniel Dawson, Governor Charlie Crist, and those who fought to get her back to Ohio will be just as guilty as those who carry out any act of violence directed at Rifqa for her apostasy.
Please continue to pray for this beautiful girl. I have a sinking feeling that she's going to need it.
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