Judge Orders Runaway Convert To Return To Ohio

ORLANDO, Fla.—An Orange County judge ordered Ohio teen runaway Fathima Rifqa Bary back to that state, ending the 17-year-old girl’s three-month stay in Florida as she battled her parents over her religious freedom and allegations of abuse.

NBC 4 reported with FAST FACTS from The Orlando Sentinel.

Circuit Judge Daniel Dawson signed an order Friday afternoon asking the Florida Department of Children and Families to make arrangements to send Rifqa back to Ohio, where she is bound for a new stint with a foster family.

A DCF spokeswoman confirmed her agency received Dawson’s ruling.

“This order indicates that the Court has relinquished its emergency jurisdiction and orders the Department to arrange the transportation of the child to the proper authorities with Franklin County Children Services in Ohio,“ spokeswoman Carrie Hoeppner said.

The local teenager who ran away from her Muslim parents to live with a Christian family in Florida told investigators her father struck her and planned to arrange her marriage.

Those details were included in an interview Rifqa Bary had with Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents released Thursday after a public records request by the Orlando Sentinel.

NBC 4’s Mike Bowersock DUG DEEPER into what she’s saying.

In the August interview, the 17-year-old told investigators why she has chosen her religion and why she ran away from home.

“One thing that defines me is my faith in Jesus Christ, and that’s something that I’ve had to hide for a very long time,” she said.

“The risks of what I do every day is very high,” she said.

An emotional exchange when speaking of her parents, particularly her father who has denied he abused his daughter.

Agent: Did he just hit you with his hand, or did he ever hit you with anything?

Rifqa: No, he was pretty strong. I mean, I was little. He just pushed me a little. I could go into a wall.

Agent: Well, you’re still pretty small,

Rifqa: I am.

Agent: You’re very petite.

Rifqa: I don’t have to live in fear of my dad. I won’t get hit.

Agent: You’re here now, OK?

Rifqa: I’m sorry.

Agent: It’s alright. Take a moment.

Rifqa: There’s no reason to come back.

Rifqa: : I’m not only worried about my parents. I’m worried about the community because I’m probably sure you’ve heard in the media and everything, my parents weren’t the ones who found out in the beginning. It was the Islamic community who found out.

Agent: Who found out about your conversion to Christianity?

Rifqa: Yes. Yes, through Facebook, and honestly I really am in fear of that community.

Despite all of this, Florida authorities said they’ve found no evidence that Rifqa was ever threatened or endangered.

Her case was expected to be sent back to Ohio.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video