Family Law
Runaway Christian Teen Who Says She Fears ‘Honor’ Killing Sparks Court Protest
Posted Aug 21, 2009 1:48 PM CST
By Martha Neil
Updated: Supporters of a 17-year-old runaway gathered in and around a central Florida courthouse today in anticipation of a hearing this afternoon at which an Orlando juvenile court judge is expected to decide whether to send Rifqa Bary back home to Ohio.
Bary says she took a bus to Florida because she fears that she will be the victim of a so-called honor killing if she stays with her Muslim family because of her recent conversion to Christianity, reports the St. Petersburg Times.
Her parents are seeking their daughter's return, saying that they love her and intend her no harm and will allow her to practice her new religion. If the Orlando judge finds that an Ohio court has jurisdiction, it appears likely that she may be put in foster care there for 30 days. She is presently in temporary foster care in Florida.
The high-profile child custody case has generated calls for state lawmakers to help Bary, and Adam Hasner, the majority leader of the state house of representatives, issued a written statement urging the court to retain jurisdiction in Florida to make sure she is safe.
After this ABAJournal.com post was initially published, Judge Daniel Dawson decided to retain jurisdiction in the case. He ordered the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the teen's abuse allegations against her family, and also plans to get the family into mediation, starting in September, to try to work out a custody arrangement without a full trial.
Additional coverage:
ABC News: "Muslim Parents Deny Threatening Daughter With Honor Killing Over Christianity"
WDBO: "Blog from Juvenile Court: Rifqa Bary hearing"
Updated at 5:45 p.m. to accord with updated St. Petersburg Times coverage.
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Comments
Tim
Aug 21, 2009 2:24 PM CST
She has every right to be scared for her life when you read the Koran, the Hadiths and the words of Mohammed.
“When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed. In such a case, it is obligatory for the caliph (A: or his representative) to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does, it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed.”—‘Umdat al-Salik o8.1-2
“Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.”—Muhammad
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J.D.
Aug 21, 2009 2:31 PM CST
I wonder why she left the “religion of peace”?
If her parents do kill her, is it not rational to conclude that Islam is not compatible with our society and legal traditions?
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DR
Aug 21, 2009 3:04 PM CST
J.D.: By the same token, the modern Christian Bible (which includes what Christians call the Old Testament) instructs parents and villages to stone their disobedient children to death. See Deuteronomy 21:18-21.
If one were to stone his/her child to death under this particular instruction, is it not rational to conclude that Christianity and Judaism are not compatible with our society and legal traditions? No, we do not accept that Christianity and Judaism are not compatable with our times. Rather, we accept that the particular directive from Deuteronomy to stone one’s child for disobedience is not compatible with our times.
And Tim, I imagine that my child would be pretty scared too if she picked up a copy of the Torah…which contains the book of Deuteronomy and the obligation to stone therein.
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bazonga
Aug 21, 2009 3:47 PM CST
J.D. - Please don’t argue religion when you obviously are ignorant of the basics. Christianity does contain the Old Testament, but it the New testament is in fact anew covenant between man and God, wherein the teachings of “eye for eye” are rejected. Hence Jesus protects the woman who is about to be stoned to death and comforts those otherwise rejected. The main tenets of Christianity are, very specifically, love - for God and mankind and the forgiveness that comes from love. God knows few have lived up to those tenets, but the inclusion of the more sanguine portions of the old testament certainly do not carry over, and are specifically repudiated by the new.
In short, bad analogy - but you are forgiven.
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J.D.
Aug 21, 2009 7:35 PM CST
DR, there have been a bunch of honor killings via islam over the past year in North America. I know of NO honor killings justified by Christianity or Judaism, but feel free to fill me in if you can find them.
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B. McLeod
Aug 21, 2009 10:30 PM CST
Sorry, bazonga, but Jesus specifically said he had not come to abolish the law or the prophets, and that one jot nor one tittle should in nowise pass from the law until all be fulfilled. When you change the words of Jesus and/or ignore his recognition and respect for the Septuagint, you are essentially judging God. You are the one who is woefully ignorant, and before you even admit to it, I will venture that your version of scripture is missing even seven of the Christian books.
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James
Aug 22, 2009 12:26 AM CST
Ah McLeod is also a theology scholar as well as a lawyer and wannabe aba columnist.
Greatest Commandment… love the Lord thy God with all your heart with all your mind and with all your soul and love thy neighbor as thyself.
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B. McLeod
Aug 22, 2009 8:21 PM CST
So, if your neighbors want to kill their daughter, you should what?
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Jennifer
Aug 23, 2009 6:24 AM CST
J.D.: In occupied Palestine the Christian Arabs commit more honor killings than Muslims.
It is an Arab cultural issue, not a religious issue as there are Muslim countries where no honor killings occur. It has something to do with tarnishing the father’s name and ruining the chances of other daughters in the family.
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athiest
Aug 23, 2009 1:38 PM CST
So if you follow the new testament, you cant stone your children but if you are, say, Jewish or another OT based religion its all good?
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J.D.
Aug 23, 2009 2:53 PM CST
That’s wonderful Jennifer; we now know all sorts of Middle Easterners are killing their daughters.
But I’m looking at North America. Canada and the U.S. have seen a number of honor killings via islam.
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James
Aug 24, 2009 7:33 AM CST
Yes, McLeod that’s exactly what I meant. Let it be known that my response if #7 specifically advocates honor killing.
You’re the one who seems to think that old testament law is still in play in modern Christian doctrine.
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T.R.
Aug 24, 2009 8:39 AM CST
I’m glad that I’m agnostic :)
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B. McLeod
Aug 24, 2009 9:33 AM CST
James, I believe I was referencing the words of Jesus (not to be confused with “modern Christian doctrine”).
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Rath
Aug 24, 2009 11:10 AM CST
Wow, I didn’t realize that the ten commandments are not in play in “modern Christian doctrine”.
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