Islam teenager, Rifqa Bary fears for her life after converting to Christianity

A 17-year-old Islam girl who ran away from her family’s home to convert to Christianity will stay in a foster home in Florida while a judge decides on custody issues.

Rifqa Bary ran away from her home in Ohio after fearing that her father, Mohamed Bary and mother, Aysha would punish her for converting to Christianity.

Columbus police were able to track down the teenager, who disappeared on July 19, through phone and computer records to the Reverend Blake Lorenz, an Orlando pastor she met on a Facebook prayer group.

When asked on Friday by the judge hearing the case if she had anything to say the teenager said, “I love my family. I love them so much…yet I’m so in fear of my life.”

The Sri Lanka family migrated to the U.S. in 2000 to seek medical attention for Rifqa, who had lost sight in her right eye when she fell and struck a toy airplane.

“She is my daughter and I love her,” her father said. “I love her and want her to come home.”

Before the next hearing, which is scheduled for September 3, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will finish investigation how the teenager arrived in Florida and whether she is in any danger at home or with Rev. Lorenz, pastor of Global Revolution Church.