Rifqa Bary controversy

Fathima Rifqa Bary (born August 10, 1992 in Galle, Sri Lanka) is a Sri Lankan United States Citizen author who drew international attention in 2009 when she ran away from her Ohio home, at age 16, saying that her Muslim parents were going to kill her for becoming a Christian.[1] Her story was broadcast on TV and discussed on political blogs,[2] becoming a focal point in a culture clash between Evangelical Christians and Muslims.[3]

Rifqa Bary
Born
Fathima Rifqa Bary

(1992-08-10) August 10, 1992
Galle, Sri Lanka
Parent(s)Mohamed Bary (father)
Aysha Risana Bary (mother)
RelativesRilvan Bary (older brother)
Rajaa Bary (younger brother)
Websitehidinginthelight.org

History

Rifqa Bary is the only daughter of Mohamed and Aysha Bary. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio with her older brother Rilvan and her younger brother Rajaa.[4] Her parents initially came to the U.S. from Sri Lanka to seek medical care for Rifqa after she became blind in her right eye when Rilvan threw a toy airplane at her when she was 5.[5] Rifqa's family moved to the United States in 2000 when she was 8.[6] Prior to moving to Ohio Rifqa was sexually abused by an extended family member. When Rifqa was 12 she considered suicide.[7] After moving into an apartment in Ohio Rifqa shared a room with Rilvan.[8] She and Rilvan attended New Albany High School. At the school Rifqa was a Straight A Student, she took AP classes, she was a cheerleader, and a member of the track and field team. During her spare time she wrote poetry and took guitar lessons.[9] Rifqa worked part time at a Chinese restaurant and would call her parents if she was ten minutes late getting home.[10] Bary's parents have said that they are Muslims and pray five times a day. Her attorney, John Stemberger, who is the leader of a Christian advocacy group,[11] claimed that the Bary family were members of the Noor Islamic Cultural Center (NICC), near Columbus.[12] In an official statement, NICC denied it was familiar with Rifqa Bary or her family and stated that their records showed she attended the cultural center's Sunday School only three times in 2007.[13] Mohamed Bary ran Bary Gems until 2009 when he closed his business.[14]

Rifqa became a Christian in 2005 at the age of 13.[15] In July 2009, she was secretly baptized in Big Walnut Creek, at Hoover Dam Park by her mentor and friend Brian Michael Williams, an aspiring pastor and college student, while her family was not at home.[16] Rifqa eventually became a member of Columbus Korean United Methodist Church.[17] Rifqa would often worship at the local prayer house at Ohio State University.[18]

On July 19, 2009 Rifqa ran away from her family's home to the home of Orlando, Florida Christian pastor Blake Lorenz and his wife, Beverly, with whom Rifqa had communicated on Facebook. Rifqa had told Beverly Lorenz that her parents would kill her for converting to Christianity.[19] Williams drove her to a bus station where a ticket was purchased under an assumed name for her bus ride to Florida.[20] Bary lived with the Lorenzes for more than two weeks before they contacted child welfare authorities, though Florida law required that they contact authorities within 24 hours of receiving Rifqa into their home.[21] The police were able to locate Rifqa through her cell phone and internet history.[22] Rifqa turned herself into the police and spent two nights in jail until a judge set her free.[23]

Her case drew attention when she appeared on television and declared that her father said, "He would kill me or send me back to Sri Lanka," describing herself as the intended victim of an honor killing.[24] A report commissioned by the Department of Justice under the Obama administration determined that honor killings are a credible threat for some young Muslim women who become "too Westernized."[25]

Her parents said they never threatened to harm her.[26] Her father told a reporter that, "Honestly, we didn't know why she left." Regarding the death threat described by his daughter, he said, "She doesn't know what she's talking about," and, "I want her to come back home. I love my daughter whether she's Christian, or anything else. I want my daughter back."[27]

Law enforcement investigations

Rifqa Bary was taken into custody by Florida child welfare authorities while an investigation was conducted. The court appointed attorneys for her parents: private practitioner Craig McCarthy for the mother, and a lawyer from the state Florida Regional Council for the father.[28] As is the result in the vast majority of cases involving alleged child abuse,[29][30][31] the Florida Department of Law Enforcement report was inconclusive, finding no hard evidence of physical or verbal abuse.

In the report, Bary's father states that he did pick up his daughter's laptop to throw it, but did not throw it due to the cost of the laptop (Bary alleged that her father raised the laptop above her head as though ready to hit her with it). The FDLE report raised questions about one claim made by Bary: that her parents did not know she was a cheerleader. The FDLE report states that pictures of her in uniform were prominently displayed in the family's home three days later when the police visited and interviewed them, and that Mr. Bary signed the permission slip for her to be a cheerleader when Mrs. Bary would not. The FDLE report also stated that they did not investigate anyone in the larger Ohio Muslim community and that Florida authorities relied in part on the investigation done by authorities in Ohio.[32]

On October 13, 2009, Orange County (Florida) Judge Daniel P. Dawson ruled that he would return Bary to Ohio pending a settlement of her immigration status.[33]

Return to Ohio and Cancer Diagnosis

On October 27, 2009, Bary was returned to Ohio and temporarily placed in the custody of Franklin County Children Services.[34] The public agency was to monitor her internet and phone use.[35] They had hoped to reunite the family before August 10, 2010, when Bary would turn 18 years old. A case-management plan was filed on December 1, 2009, stating that Bary and her family needed to have face-to-face talks about their understanding of Christianity and Islam as one step toward reunification.[36]

On December 22, 2009, a magistrate of the Franklin county juvenile court denied Bary's parents' request for forced mediation and set the date for the dependency hearing for the end of January.[37] The hearing was canceled on January 19, 2010, when a deal between the parties was reached with Bary becoming a dependent of the State of Ohio in exchange for admitting that she broke the rules when she ran away. It was agreed that Rifqa would remain in foster care until her 18th birthday. Once Rifqa turned 18 she could do whatever she wanted.[38] Judge Elizabeth Gill ordered Rifqa and her parents to attend counseling.[39] Magistrate Mary Goodrich eventually gave Rifqa permission to contact the Lorenzs.[40] On January 28, 2010, once it was learned that Bary would be allowed to contact Reverend Lorenz and his wife, Bary's parents, on the strict advice of their lawyer, requested to back out of the deal.[41] On March 2, 2010, Judge Gill denied their request and ordered them to continue their counseling sessions so that Rifqa could return home to her family before she turned 18.[42] In June 2010, Bary graduated from Focus Learning Academy.[43] That same year, she was diagnosed with a rare form of Uterine cancer. The doctors gave her one year to live.[44] After three surgeries and 45 weeks of chemotherapy, Bary stopped her cancer treatments.[45] Her parents asked the courts to force their daughter to continue receiving chemotherapy, but they refused.[46] Bary has been declared cancer free.[47] The doctors warned Rifqa that without chemotherapy the cancer could return. They explained that if the cancer comes back Rifqa would need a hysterectomy and that she'll die if the cancer spreads.[48] On August 5, 2010 Mary Goodrich ruled that it wasn't possible for Rifqa to be reunited with her family.[49] On August 10, 2010, Bary turned 18 years old and Franklin County Children Services' custody of her ended.[50] After the gag order was lifted on her hearings, her father and mother stated that Bary had sent them a video two weeks prior, along with candy and music, saying she loved them. They also stated that Bary sent them letters including one where she thanked them for helping her be a successful student. At the same time, the parents' Ohio attorney, Omar Tarazi, indicated that the Barys have not had a private face-to-face conversation with their daughter, even in the presence of a family counselor, since she ran away.[51] Omar dropped his lawsuit against Bary's lawyer, but he continued to sue Pamela Geller for defamation[52] until September 21, 2011.[53]

Life After Winning Her Freedom

In September 2010 after turning 18, Bary was granted residency in the United States.[54] Rifqa Bary eventually went on to study biology in college and became an evangelist. During her time in college Rifqa was able to go on a mission trip to India.[55] On November 6, 2015 Bary became a legal US Citizen after she turned 23.[56] On July 15, 2015 Rifqa had surgery to receive a prosthetic eye.[57] Rifqa became a writer and signed with WaterBrook Press in 2014.[58] On May 19, 2015 she released her debut book "Hiding in the Light: Why I Risked Everything to Leave Islam and Follow Jesus".[59] Rifqa has since graduated from college with a degree in philosophy. She is now pursuing a career in law.[60]

Writings
  • Hiding in the Light: Why I Risked Everything to Leave Islam and Follow Jesus (2015)

Public debate

The situation drew international attention[61] and point of "hostility between some Christians and Muslims."[62]

Imam Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida claimed that the controversy was caused "by far-right religious groups" portraying Islam and Muslims as extreme fundamentalists who might kill a child.[62] Harry Coverston, a professor of religion, theorized that some individuals must have an enemy.[62] Writing in FrontPage Magazine, conservative blogger and commentator Robert Spencer described the whole incident as a "slow-motion honor killing"[63] while Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio made statements in support of Bary. Mathew Staver, president of the Liberty University School of Law and lawyer for the Lorenzes said, "Lorenz had a legitimate reason to believe Rifqa Bary was in fear of her life because she'd converted to Christianity".

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References
  1. Christian Teen Flees Home, Says She Fears Honor Killing by Muslim Father
  2. Rifqa Bary: Judge says 17-year-old Muslim-to-Christian convert must stay in Florida
  3. A Florida Culture-War Circus Over Rifqa Bary
  4. Police urged charging 6 who helped Rifqa Bary flee
  5. Rifqa Bary, Muslim-turned Christian runaway, tells her story in new book
  6. Judge Urges Mediation in 'Honor Killing' Custody Case
  7. 'I Was Terrified' — Partially Blind Muslim Schoolgirl Who Found Jesus Recalls Risking Her Life to Read the Bible
  8. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT RIFQA LEFT
  9. Parents of US teen convert brace for tough fight
  10. Muslim family: Problems began with laptop gift
  11. Rifqa Bary's former lawyer in trouble with The Florida Bar
  12. Attorney Targets Alleged Terror Ties in Case of Runaway Girl
  13. Islamic center says it’s being smeared by hate groups
  14. 'Apostate' girl's father
  15. Rifqa Bary details transformation from Islam to Christianity
  16. RIFQA BARY: CUSTODY CASE BECOMES HOLY WAR
  17. Attorney: Ohio Mosque a Threat to Runaway Teen
  18. Young convert tells of journey in 2-hour tape
  19. Muslim Parents Deny Threatening Daughter With Honor Killing Over Christianity
  20. Minister Under Scrutiny for Helping Runaway Christian Convert
  21. Rifqa Bary: Couple that took Rifqa Bary says they have no regrets
  22. Police: No evidence teen was threatened over Christianity
  23. Ex-Muslim Rifqa Bary who fled her family after Christian conversion: 'I don't live in fear because every day belongs to God'
  24. Court Expected to Send Runaway Teen Home Despite Muslim Honor Killing Fears
  25. "Report on Exploratory Study into Honor Violence Measurement Methods" (PDF).
  26. Girl brainwashed, parents say
  27. Runaway teen convert: Judge may decide next chapter for Rifqa Bary,17-year-old convert
  28. Green, Amy (October 17, 2009). "Teen Feared Death After Change from Islam to Christianity". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  29. Association, Press (2013-10-05). "Child sexual abuse victims are being failed by courts, says NSPCC". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  30. Sharples, Tiffany (2008-12-02). "Study: Most Child Abuse Goes Unreported". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  31. "National Statistics on Child Abuse | National Children's Alliance". www.nationalchildrensalliance.org. Archived from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  32. FDLE SEES NO DANGER FOR GIRL
  33. Judge orders Fathima Rifqa Bary to return to Ohio
  34. John Couwels (October 27, 2009). "Runaway teen Christian convert returned to Ohio". CNN. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  35. Judge Limits Christian Convert's Internet, Phone Usage
  36. Caseworker: Runaway, parents must talk religion
  37. No Forced Mediation for Rifqa Bary, Florida Pastor Under Fire for Helping Runaway Teen
  38. Counseling next for Rifqa, family
  39. Rifqa’s judge orders counseling
  40. Magistrate OKs supervised contact between Rifqa Bary, Florida couple
  41. Parents object to Rifqa contacting Fla. couple
  42. Parents, teen convert agree to continue counseling
  43. Rifqa, 18, on her own now
  44. Rifqa Bary tells of molestation, DCF woes and Christian faith in new book
  45. Rifqa Bary refusing chemotherapy, believes faith cured her cancer, court document says
  46. Ohio Judge Rules No Forced Chemo Treatment for Runaway Christian Convert
  47. Fathima Rifqa Bary turns 18, wins freedom to do as she likes
  48. Statement By Rifqa Bary's Parents
  49. Judge opens path for Rifqa Bary to stay in U.S.
  50. Teen convert to Christianity leaves state custody
  51. Rifqa's dad: 'We love her. We want the best for her'
  52. Bary-case lawyer files $10M defamation lawsuit
  53. Lawyer for parents of runaway drops suit
  54. Rifqa now permanent U.S. resident
  55. Rifqa Bary, symbol of religious persecution, becomes college student
  56. Rifqa Bary
  57. At the ocularist prepping for a prosthetic eye. I can't believe this is happening! Pictures coming soon.
  58. Christian convert Rifqa Bary writes book, still believes she’s under threat
  59. Rifqa Bary: Muslim-To-Christian Convert And Teen Runaway Still Fears Death At Hands Of Father, Or Mosque
  60. What Ever Happened to Rifqa Bary? How This Persecuted Ex-Muslim Found Strength to 'Rise Up!'
  61. Christian supporters rally for Rifqa at hearing for runaway teen
  62. Heagney, Meredith (September 14, 2009). "Amid a holy war: National debate over a Columbus teen's faith exposes hostility between some Christians and Muslims". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on November 18, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  63. Spencer, Robert. "A Slow-Motion Honor Killing". FrontPage Magazine. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2011.

Further reading
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