Rifqa Bary, the Muslim-to-Christian teen convert who is at the center of a politically charged custody dispute, will go back to Ohio as soon as issues of her immigration and online schooling are solved.
Amy L. Edwards and Sarah Lundy Orlando Sentinel Staff Writers, October 13, 2009
An Orange County Circuit judge said today he will send Ohio runaway Fathima Rifqa Bary back to her home state, but only after her parents provide immigration paperwork and other officials ensure she can continue her schooling through a Florida online school.
At a hearing packed with lawyers, media, bloggers and spectators, Orange Circuit Court Judge Daniel Dawson once again ordered that Rifqa’s parents — from whom the teenager ran in July — submit all the paperwork necessary to settle any immigration issues.
The family is from Sri Lanka but currently live in the Columbus area.
Rifqa, now 17, attended the hearing but did not speak. As she did at hearing proceedings, Rifqa thumbed through a Bible.
Krista Bartholomew, Rifqa’s guardian ad litem, said she has provided the Barys’ attorneys a list of all documents needed to settle Rifqa’s immigration status, but she has yet to receive everything.
Dawson also said he has “very grave concerns” why the documents have not been provided, despite several orders commanding the parents to do so.
“I don’t think it’s that hard,” Dawson said of the Barys’ providing the documents.
Shayan Elahi, the local lawyer representing Rifqa’s father, said the documents could be provided this week.
Dawson also wanted paperowork that make sure Rifqa can continue the Florida online school in Ohio and someone will be able to pay for it.
The teenager has been in Orlando since mid-July when she boarded a Greyhound bus and left Ohio. She arrived in Orlando and took up residence with husband and wife pastors she met through a prayer group on the Internet social networking site Facebook.
Rifqa said she ran away from her Muslim family because she feared they would harm or kill her because she converted to Christianity. (Read More)
