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Honor killing-Sri Lankan teen, convert in US fears for her life!

by sathyajith | August 11, 2009 at 06:19 am

1076 views | 14 Recommendations | 4 comments

Converted Teen girl from Sri Lanka!? An Ohio girl ran away to Orlando because she said her family threatened to kill her for converting to Christianity. Rifqa Bary, 17, said she was threatened by her family because she converted from Islam to Christianity. Sadly "Honor Killings" happens every day throughout the world

Sri Lankan teen convert in US fears for her life

A Sri Lankan teenager has told a US court she fears for her life after converting from her family’s faith to Christianity. The girl is now in the custody of the US Department of Children And Families, a US TV network reported.

The girl, 17-year-old Rifqa Bary, recently converted from her family's faith to Christianity and she is worried about her family's reaction to her change in faith, News 13.com reported.

"She says her life is in danger and she could be killed in an honor killing," Rosa Gonzalez, the teen's lawyer, said after a hearing at an Orlando courtroom, Monday. "Unfortunately it happens every day in the U.S."

The young Sri Lankan girl has been staying with an Orlando family she met through a prayer group on Facebook for several weeks.

The teen had been staying with Beverly Lorenz and her husband, pastors of the newly launched Global Revolution Church in Orlando. But she is now in the custody of the Department of Children And Families.

Lorenz said the teen hitchhiked to a Greyhound station in Ohio, and then took a bus to Orlando.

The girl asked Lorenz if she could come to her house. Even though she barely knew the girl, Lorenz said it was OK.

The teen, a non-citizen, told Lorenz she was fearful that her father would send her to Sri Lanka.

After the girl arrived in Orlando, Lorenz said they called an abuse hotline and started calling lawyers, asking what they should do.

Another hearing is scheduled on Friday. However, DCF officials say it a matter to be decided by Ohio authorities.

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J A J (not verified)

at 08:36 on August 21st, 2009

Seriously... this is just another way to make Muslims look like crazy barbarians. HONOR KILLING? Really? That is ridiculous. She's stupid. I hope her family doesn't do anything to her and it angers me that no one has asked the family anything. They are only taking her side.And also, she says she's the first to know Jesus... as if Jesus doesn't exist in Islam.AND IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY IN THE US? WTF? REALLY?I HATE STUPID PEOPLE.

Sputnic

at 14:19 on August 25th, 2009

Good points, angry, but good points

namedwon (not verified)

at 13:39 on August 31st, 2009

It's not stupid, honor killings happen all the time, even in the US, and her family is part of a hardcore/fundamentalist Islamic movement. The claim that the child fears her family is credible. Besides, she's nearly 18 and will be free to hide from them if only she can keep the court from forcing her return before then.

chammi (not verified)

at 12:33 on October 15th, 2009

I have never seen or heard this kind of killing happened in Sri Lanka. I have been living there for 45 years. Muslims living there is nice and respectful. This girl must have mislead by someone or some group of people.