Christian Web News - The parents of the Muslim girl who converted to Christianity and ran away for fear of her life have now rejected the deal agreed upon in court that would allow her to remain in foster care.

On Jan 19th, the plan to allow 17-year-old Rifqa Bary to stay in a foster home under state custody until she turns 18 was approved. But a motion filed this past Thursday by the attorney of Mohamed and Aysha Bary states that Bary’s parents “now believe the entire deal should be thrown out because of misrepresentation and fraudulent inducement."

The motion states that although the Franklin County Children Services promised it would protect Bary from the people who helped her run away and are trying to exploit her, she's allowed to talk to them,

Bary is reportedly being allowed to attend "the very church that targeted her in the first place,” it added, suggesting that she’s attending Global Revolution Church, the church of Pastors Blake and Beverly Lorenz in Orlando.

Bary has been involved in a legal battle with her parents, since last August, who she ran away from the month before.

Bary claims that her father had said, "If you have this Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me!" and also added some time later, "I will kill you!"

Bary’s father, Mohamed Bary, however, has denied ever threatening to kill his daughter for converting to Christianity and accuses the Lorenzes of “brainwashing” his daughter into believing she was in danger of an "honor killing."

The evangelical pastor couple, who Bary met through a Facebook prayer group, meanwhile, have denied having knowingly broke the law by hiding the Muslim-turned-Christian girl from Ohio.

Bary reportedly told them that her parents would not report her missing – a believable claim as the Barys emigrated from Sri Lanka, where women who stray from strict cultural upbringings are often accused of bringing dishonor upon the family and are cast out or even killed.

To their surprise, however, Bary was reported missing by her parents, who have been trying to regain custody of her.

Bary has been living in foster homes since last year. First she lived in Florida and later in Ohio, where judges from both states eventually agreed jurisdiction in the custody case belonged.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which completed investigation into the Lorenzes’ role in Bary’s case, has yet to come to a decision on whether the pastor couple will be charged with any wrongdoing.

All parties are under a gag order and cannot comment on the case.

---

Users' Comments (0)

Add your comment