The argument can be made that the courts shouldn’t get involved in a familial dispute, because there is absolutely no indication or evidence that what this girl says she’s afraid of would actually happen. Is there any evidence, other than what she imagines? Does she say her parents ever threatened her? Has she been kept from school or shut away since her conversion? What does her local pastor say, as opposed to a minister she met of Facebook?
The fact that this family is Muslim is not enough reason to imagine that they would murder her.
She had to convert to Christinity in secret,hence, no “local pastor”. She kept her faith secret from her family for 3 years.
When her father found out, he confronted her and (she says) he thratened to kill her. He has denied to investigators that he intends to kill his daughter.
When she ducked down in the car on one occassion to keep friends from seeng her in her hijab, he struck her in the face.
A muslim website posted a specific threat to “kill her”. This was taken down when publcized.
Her mother threatened they would return her to Sri Lanka in a muslim-dominant society (and where”honor killings” are more morally acceptable.)
The father has sold his jewelry business and seems to be eliminating ties to this country.
The father chose a mosque far from his home with several other mosques closer by. This mosque has hosted a number of radical speakers and supporters of terrorist groups like hamas.
Although she will initially be placed in foster care in Ohio, her parents may well get her back and be in a position to return to Sri Lanka. Also, the large muslim local community will be able to locate her.
Honor killings have happened in the USA. Yasser Said shot his 2 teenage daughters in Texas in 2007 and has never been caught. He went into hiding with the help of the muslim network.
from FR thread: New Video of Rifqa Bary: "My parents are radical, radical muslims"
The fact that this family is Muslim is not enough reason to imagine that they would murder her.
A 17 year old is old enough to understand the basic concepts of right and wrong. She is also old enough to understand the consequences of making false allegations/exaggerations. If someone threatened to kill you based upon a fundemental belief that was the polar opposite of their's, would you take it seriously? Would you want others to take it seriously?
And yes actually she did say her parents threatened he. Her father told her if she "had this Jesus in your heart, I will kill you.
It is interesting you mentioned the Pastor on Facebook, but neglected to mention the world wide fatwa that was posted; also on Facebook. You know, the one calling for her death at the hands of any muslim in the world.
Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."