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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009

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Texas Accidentally Bans Straight Marriage

Law designed to forbid gay civil unions actually bars any unions

Nov 19, 09 7:28 AM CST
demagogue alert

Lawmaker Paints Target on Barack Obama's Back

Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert panders to dangerous paranoids

Nov 21, 09 9:08 AM CST
Amanda Knox:
Murder Charges
'Pure Fantasy'

Prosecutors ask for life sentence; defense prepares final arguments

Nov 21, 09 1:05 PM CST
Pub's Bad Service Leads
to Arrest—of Irate Patrons

No skipping gratuity, restaurant says

Nov 20, 09 11:14 AM CST
Shaniya Raped, Killed on Day of Abduction: Cops

NC 5-year-old was asphyxiated, arrest warrant says

Nov 20, 09 5:04 PM CST
Peru Gang Accused
of Killing to Harvest Fat

Cosmetics firms said to pay $60K/gallon; experts skeptical

Nov 19, 09 10:00 PM CST
kercher murder trial

Knox Acted Out of
'Hatred': Prosecutor

Closing argument speaks of 'crescendo of violence'

Nov 20, 09 2:57 PM CST
CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL

Defense Accuses Man Who Found Caylee's Body

Cops have already cleared utility worker

Nov 20, 09 12:12 PM CST
BIG BROTHER

Cops Use Facebook to Bust Underage Drinkers

Phony 'friend' gains access to drinking photos

Nov 19, 09 6:19 PM CST
Mother of Slain
5-Year-Old
Is Pregnant

Antoinette Davis is accused of selling her daughter as a sex slave

Nov 17, 09 5:13 PM CST
John Kerry:
My Daughter Wasn't
Legally Drunk

Says Alexandra was busted for expired tags, but passed test

Nov 20, 09 8:33 AM CST
ANN COULTER

Diversity Isn't a Strength

'Irritating cliché' should be ditched in wake of Fort Hood

Nov 19, 09 1:18 AM CST
Ohio Sues Credit Rating Agencies for Role in Crisis

Moody's, S&P, Fitch lied about risk of toxic securities, AG charges

Nov 20, 09 3:29 PM CST

|NEXT STORY »

Runaway Muslim Girl Sparks Furor

Girl converted to Christianity, sought protection from parents

By Rob Quinn| Posted Oct 15, 09 5:40 AM CDT|

(Newser) – An Ohio teen has found herself straddling the fault line between the world's two biggest religions after converting to Christianity and running away from her Muslim parents. A judge in Florida, where 17-year-old Rifqa Bary was being sheltered by pastors she met on a Facebook group, has ruled that she be returned to Ohio, but placed with a foster family.

Muslim and Christian groups demonstrated outside the courthouse during the hearing. Bary told authorities that her father had threatened her with death if she converted to Christianity, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Authorities decided that the teen's claims were unfounded. But analysts say the case underlines the need for the American legal system to work on ways to prevent potential honor killings.

Mohamed Bary, right, his wife, Aysha, and their son Rilvan answer questions about their daughter Rifqa during an interview in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Rifqa Bary attends a court hearing before Orange County Circuit Judge Daniel Dawson in Orlando, Florida last month. (AP Photo/George Skene, Pool)

Rifqa Bary, 17, is seen during her hearing at the Thomas S. Kirk Juvenile Justice Center in Orlando, Fla., earlier this week. (AP Photo/Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda, POOL)

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34 comments

VIEWING:

RockyPneumonia
Oct 15, 09 5:56 AM CDT

Few things are as dishonorable as "honor" killings. Reply

+21

IN RESPONSE:

Citrixguy
Oct 15, 09 9:54 AM CDT

Rocky - 99% of the time we are on different sides...this is that 1%

IN RESPONSE:

jamerican
Oct 15, 09 10:42 AM CDT

If anything happens to her the judge should go to prison for murder. Islam is a religion of violence and they do want to take over the world. This is their agenda. Wake up America.

-6

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Oct 15, 09 11:54 AM CDT

Wow. I thought you righties were all "Family Values" and "keep the government out of our business"? Does it hurt to actually think on a topic?

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 15, 09 12:09 PM CDT

How is that different from trying to make everyone Christian, Jamerican. By the way, have you studied Islam?

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Oct 16, 09 12:51 AM CDT

jamerican your a very disturbed individual if you think Christianity isn't a a violent religion. Oh sure, it's cleaned up it's act over the decades, but for some reason when nutcases like you start badmouthing another religion you seem to forget the horrors that were committed in the name of Christianity.

| 0 minutes ago

Aelius28
Oct 15, 09 6:38 AM CDT

Witness the religion of peace at work, folks. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 15, 09 4:49 PM CDT

All religions are the same. (bunk)

| 0 minutes ago

Thinker
Oct 15, 09 7:06 AM CDT

So she exchanges one silly religion for another. She should just run away to college; at least then she might convert to intelligence. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

divetrader
Oct 15, 09 7:17 AM CDT

Agreed Thinker. But unfortunately there are plenty of people willing to kill for their "non-violent" religions.

IN RESPONSE:

rkossik
Oct 15, 09 7:27 AM CDT

I also agree, but the court would not have granted her protection from her parents if she had "converted" to being rational.

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Oct 15, 09 11:51 AM CDT

Yes yes yes.

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Oct 15, 09 7:40 AM CDT

as long as she stays in some other care than her parents, until she is of age...and stays alive, and can tell the courts and the potential "honor killer"....to take a freaking hike....who cares what faith if any that she follows....as long as she is alive to do so Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Sylvie
Oct 15, 09 7:45 AM CDT

You do not know Islam if you believe her father would not really kill her. They would not hesitate to resort to violence to defend their religion; they are that fanatics. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

RogerMohajir
Oct 15, 09 9:00 AM CDT

You do not know Islam. It is a faith with as many variations in orthodoxy and application as Christianity. Islam in Turkey is nothing like Islam in Saudi Arabia, which is nothing like Islam in Malaysia, which is nothing like... but you get the point. Honor killings are traditional practices that pre-dated Islam in the areas where they are practiced. They are certainly to be condemned, but they should not be confused with Islam.

IN RESPONSE:

Swifty
Oct 15, 09 9:09 AM CDT

Are you insinuating that Christianity is any better? Have you picked up a History book lately? Don't forget that George W. Bush was instructed by God to wage war on a sovereign nation without provocation. Violence in Islam may occassionally be closer to home but Religion of all kinds leads to irrational outcomes.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Oct 15, 09 9:11 AM CDT

They? "They" are people. The religion attached to them is Islam. Some Muslims consider themselves devout and would not harm anyone. ................... I think Western bullying, traditional poverty, corruption, and general lack of luck have pushed Islamic societies much harder than others right now. Their religion is basically fighting back against Christianity. Christianity is just in the driver's seat. If the roles were reversed, "we" would be "them". Christians would be the hotheads always leading rock-throwing insurrections . . .

IN RESPONSE:

newsrmandan
Oct 15, 09 12:40 PM CDT

Roger.... If it is not to be associated with Islam then Islam has to do a better job of marketing itself to the west. From the western Mindset only primitive and barbaric forms of religion have associated with itself such a thing as Honor Killings. One way for "Islam" if it is the religion of peace to do this is to start routing and exposing to the world these car- bus- self- bombers that we hear about so often in our western newspapers. Islam is, what Islam allows the to be portrayed of itself and the last century or even more it has not been known as peaceful. Americans understand that there is a radical element of Islam that doesn't express itself in all places, what we don't know is that is the true or false form. @ Shonangreg "Christianity is in the drivers seat" Christianity is and always has been a passenger and where there has always been those who hang on the side of the vehicle (The Pope, Televangelists, money grubbing hucksters, end time fanatics, Snake handlers, Faith Healers. etc etc) telling the driver how and where to drive the driver of the vehicle has always been Christ. The vehicle has always been the Church. So its not so much that Christianity is in the driver seat its that the driver has taken a thousand year detour into the west.

IN RESPONSE:

RogerMohajir
Oct 15, 09 4:00 PM CDT

@newsrmandan - Certainly Islam could use better PR in the West, but isn't the same true of Christianity in the Muslim world? Christian ministers preach intolerance of Islam from the pulpit and other ministers (and the public) remain silent. How is that different from the Muslims who are silent about their own purveyors of hate? One side has to make the first move, and I believe it is incumbent on the West, with its cultural tradition of tolerance, to do so. The sort of blanket statement made by Sylvie is indefensible, yet seems to bother the Newser community very little -- in fact, she gets thumbs up.

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Oct 15, 09 4:50 PM CDT

newsrmandan, the "vehicle" I was referring to is basically the earth. And Christian societies have been in the driver's seat for the most part since Constantine. If you want to change this from a secular conversation of life and struggles on earth (which was the topic, by the way) on earth to a Sunday School lecture on the place of Jesus in Christianity, go ahead. But I'm not following you.

IN RESPONSE:

newsrmandan
Oct 15, 09 5:25 PM CDT

Roger....If islam wants the west to defend or market its point of view in a way that would effectively work in the Islamic world then it must open its doors to a free flow of ideas. Truth always rises to the top even if it held down by force. Seems like you would have the west do something in the Muslim world that the Muslim won't allow, how can that be helpful. I submit to you an example, almost every big city in America Muslims are able to do their prayers at some Mosque whereas if a christian wants to set up worship services in any Islamic country its quite different story. It is the Islamic world that must make the first move in order for the western world to then follow. All we are asking for is freedom to let people worship as they see fit, without threat. People on public forums like this are free to say whatever they want it makes for a frustrating place at times but it would be much worse if people weren't allowed to say any of the stupid stuff they say. Thats part of what makes America a great place people are free to say stupid stuff and get rich doing so.

IN RESPONSE:

newsrmandan
Oct 15, 09 5:44 PM CDT

@shonengred.... I am sure you remember your sunday school lessons my statements was not meant to change the subject since the girl in question here became a christian and was scared of returning home probably because of some real threat of more than just a stern look by her father. If its been a Christian influence since the days of Constantine it has been a miss applied association. You cannot talk about the christian influence with out talking about the Christians Christ. I feel the problem is that the "christian" influence that you scorn has been one that has been disconnected with Christ.

| 0 minutes ago

larone
Oct 15, 09 7:55 AM CDT

lets not forget that "Religion is the opiate of the masses" Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Fondue
Oct 15, 09 9:31 AM CDT

Well, she's figured out Islam isn't for her, maybe in another 5 years she'll figure out Christianity is no better. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

thephat
Oct 15, 09 10:20 AM CDT

Poor girl. She is symbolic of the world population. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader83543276
Oct 15, 09 11:02 AM CDT

No religion that kills its people is from God, and no group of people that do so even know God. Just because you sit in a church, temple, or whatever, and pretend to pray does not make you a true blessed humasn being. God knows who are his true followers, Satan knows his as well. By the way if the claims were unfounded, why was she not returned to the parents? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Silverbow7
Oct 15, 09 1:57 PM CDT

Good luck, Rifqa. What are your going to do once the Christians have lost interest and your family and your people have disowned you? Every religion, fraction, and home bible study think they have the only way. It's not what religion you practice, if any, it is about who you are. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

freethemall
Oct 15, 09 5:02 PM CDT

Any, of whatever persuasion, who looked to ancient writings as a guide to morality, are dangerous to whatever extent they take these writings as the literal truth. The Bible instructs its adherent to put to the death any who worship "false gods". The Koran, ditto. The scary thing, is that no one, who does not profess to believe in one of these absurd, barbaric, religions, could ever be elevated to high office. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

tbnews2
Oct 15, 09 6:53 PM CDT

Journalistic practice should require that the 'honor' in 'honor killing' be put inside quotation marks. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

lindamae
Oct 16, 09 12:37 AM CDT

To deny that honor killings take place in the US and Canada is to ignore the news. There are @ 5000 recorded honor killings - women murdered by their male - and sometimes female - family members to dating outside of the faith, being too western, questioning authority--around the world. When a religion states a male has the right to kill a family member to retain the "honor" of the family, something is wrong. There are fundamentalist crazies in all religions. This is one and should also be discussed. This girl is doomed if she returns home to her parents. I don't question her fear for a moment. Are you willing to bet her life? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Oct 16, 09 5:31 PM CDT

Are you serious? If so, you demonstrate exactly why religious faith is so dangerous. Down with faith; up with reason! The future of the human race demands it.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

17081960
Oct 16, 09 11:53 AM CDT

christianity, islam, zionism are rays of one light why you all are fighting with each other make peace and live peacefully.There is no compulsion in religion to you your faith to me mine.. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Monjubikahn
Oct 20, 09 1:29 PM CDT

Did you know that Muhammad's first wife was a Catholic Nun. Historical Fact. She had an influence on the genesis of Islam. The two Religions are not that different in the way they are administered. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Monjubikahn
Oct 20, 09 2:06 PM CDT

The way to peace they know not. God is not divided. The whole world lies in wickedness and is deceived. The truth is not territorial. It just is and it can be applied and brings forth good results. The rays of one light is deceptive. The finger prints of the destroyer are in that concept. It does not permit unity or peace. Without unity there is no peace and there is no government to administer peace. Peace is not the ceasing of hostilities and strife. Peace is the administration of Righteousness. Which is literally everybody doing right by themselves and by their neighbors and by the creator of all things. This builds righteous character and the opportunity to become gods. The science fiction themes of ascention are real. It reflects what has already been revealed. If this life is all that we have we are men most miserable. Lives have been snuffed out in an effort to suppress this knowledge. The Kingdom of God will supplant all human government on Earth and enforce peace and utopian joy. It will happen. Going to heaven is not an option as Earth, the crown jewel of the universe, will be the seat of government for the whole universe. God the Father will be moving in with us here on Earth. [Christ said .."No one comes to the Father but by me."] [The septer of rule will be handed to God the Father by Christ.] [The stars shall call and the Earth shall answer.] The truth is far more wonderful than the rays of one light deception. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 34 comments »

Muslim Americans • religion • Muslim • Christians • convert • honor killings • custody battle • Rifqa Bary

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Runaway Muslim Girl Sparks Furor

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Swiss Group Fights Against Islam's Minarets

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Pakistan Muslims Torch Christian Houses; 6 Dead

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Suspect moved to
San Antonio hospital

MORE ABOUT:
Islam • Muslim Americans • Muslim • San Antonio • massacre • US Army • American Muslims • mass shootings • Fort Hood • Fort Hood shooting • Nidal Malik Hasan • Brooke Army Medical Center

Swiss Group Fights
Against Islam's Minarets

MORE ABOUT:
Islam • religion • Switzerland • minarets • Muslim • mosque • referendum

Pakistan Muslims
Torch Christian
Houses; 6 Dead

MORE ABOUT:
Islam • Pakistan • sectarian violence • Muslim • Koran • Christians