From an AP story in  Netscape News--

(AP)  The fate of a 17-year-old girl who ran away from her Ohio home because she says she feared punishment for converting from Islam to Christianity could be decided in an Orlando courtroom Friday. 

The teenager disappeared last month and police used phone and computer records to track her to the Rev. Blake Lorenz, pastor of Orlando, Fla.-based Global Revolution Church, who she had met through an online Facebook prayer group.
     For more on the story, see this link.

The girl's family, which immigrated to America many years ago to get medical treatment for the girl,  is protesting, and asking for the return of their daughter.  They deny she's in any danger from them.  The Columbus police have also expressed doubt about the claim.

The parents dispute the story the girl has given, expressing doubt about her ability to "hitchhike" from her suburb home with no money.  They think the girl was taken to Florida by her new "sponsors."

The judge ruled last Friday that the girl should remain in Florida, pending further investigation and a custody hearing.

Is this a case of legitimate fear of "honor" killing or other physical danger?  Or a near-kidnapping of an underage girl?

Where do you think the girl belongs?

How would you feel if it were your daughter?

The girl is from Ohio. She's a legal minor and her parents are responsible for her. She needs no sponsor.......what are you talking about in that regard?

Corliss

Soldier in the "War on Stupid"

==What do you think the judge should do?

==I think the judge should allow her to stay here. I don't know what the heck these people in charge of other people are thinking. Just yesterday Scotland released the thug responsible for 279 deaths in the name of "compassion", but this girl who refuses to go back  to her homeland for fear of being killed because she converted to Christianity isn't compassion?

Her "homeland" is OHIO.

==Those in charge of other peoples lives are bending over backwards to appease the Islamic fanatics. I think she should get a sponsor here, or whatever you call it, until she turns 18 and is an adult so that she can decide for herself.

The people "in charge of her life" are her parents. The Christian "thugs" are the one who interfered with their parental rights.

"Muslim" is  not synonymous with "fanatic".

Muslims have the same rights as Christians to raise their children in their faith without interference.

Not that facts would ever enter into your diliberations.

It looks like you're unclear on some details here.  I'll take another look at my root message to see if I failed to give enough information. 

The girl isn't being asked to go "back to her homeland," but to her family home in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.

I'll own that as a parent and a member of a minority religion, I'm incined to side with the parents.  I'd like to see some genuine evidence that the girl is in any danger.  I've had my own kids pressured to take part in various "fellowships" over the years, and it's been real pressure.

At the same time, I am aware that sometimes there can be a danger to a child who converts, or strays from one tradition or another.  So I'm open to evidence.  But I'd like to see some, not just a claim by a child who is, at present, under the influence and "care" of those who have converted her to another faith.

I agree, but there are tragic examples of what can happen when a family moves here from another country and can't assimilate. Therefore the fear that this teen feels is all too real.

I'd adjust that to "could be all too real."  That's the thing.  That some fanatics have killed their children doesn't mean that every member of the faith is a fanatic.  This could be a perfectly ordinary family, and it would be that the daughter's been conned.  That does happen, Terri.  In this case, the family claims that they haven't prevented her conversion, but only asked her not to prosletyze in school.

By the way, I'm not ignoring your Lockerbie point, but we've already got some quite heated threads on the topic in the International section of the forum, and I'm trying to keep threads on-track insofar as possible.

Terilyn<<I agree, but there are tragic examples of what can happen when a family moves here from another country and can't assimilate. Therefore the fear that this teen feels is all too real.<<

Sysop Alex Krislov<<I'd adjust that to "could be all too real."  That's the thing.  That some fanatics have killed their children doesn't mean that every member of the faith is a fanatic.<<

During the ole communist days one writer observed that in chosing between the statements of communist officials on no torture and victim statements to the contrary, he will rather err on the side of the victims.

The kid has an interest in not proving those who minimise the fate of apostates from Islam wrong. The law should give greater weight to the concerns of the kid since she, and not the court, runs the risk of addition to the list of 'honour' victims.

Sysop Alex Krislov>>This could be a perfectly ordinary family,...<<

The kid by her actions and statements challenges that suggestion. And even if the immediate family- dad and mom- are perfectly ordinary; the Sharia doctrine on the killing of apostates does not limit that duty to the immediate family; in western countries that burden has often been left to minor boys, since they can stand a better chance of lighter penalty being minors.

Sysop Alex Krislov>>... and it would be that the daughter's been conned.<<

That is possible, but it will be wrong for the courts to assume that a priori, and without proof. Until convincing evidence proves conning, the kids fears and concerns must take precedence.

Sysop Alex Krislov<<That does happen, Terri.  In this case, the family claims that they haven't prevented her conversion, but only asked her not to prosletyze in school.<<

It looks like the Judge has ruled that the kid stay in Florida. I just saw online

Juin

Terilyn<<I think the judge should allow her to stay here<<

Seems like the Judge may have ruled for her to stay in Florida for the moment. If that is correct, then one's faith in the Judicial system is redeemed.

In the present case of Fathima Riqfa Bary the left is acting bizarre again. It appears it is far better for the conscience of the left for Fathima Rifqa Bary to face her fate at the mercy of Mahomet's doctrine on apostasy than that Islam face up to its pathological mysogyny.

It is actually a no brainer. When in doubt the law must lean towards protecting the potential victim. It is absurd that the law should consider the dignity of Islam as of greater concern compared to the risk of honour killing that Rifqa fears.

Are we supposed to just pretend that 'honour killings' are just a figment of the imagination:)?

Juin