Ohio Muslim couple wants to reconcile with teen daughter who became a Christian, fled to Fla.

Ohio religious convert’s parents want to reconcile

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio couple just wants a reasonable chance to reconcile with their daughter, who fled to Florida last year claiming she would be harmed for converting from Islam to Christianity, the parents’ attorney said Tuesday.

Rifqa Bary’s parents have denied their daughter’s claim. Their attorney, Omar Tarazi, said Tuesday during a custody hearing that the mother and father still have a moral and constitutional right to try to raise their daughter, even though she turns 18 in August.

“We want a reasonable, good faith chance for reconciliation with this family,” Tarazi said. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Bary wants the court to rule that a reunion is impossible and that it is not in her best interest to be returned to her native Sri Lanka. Her lawyer, Angela Lloyd, said the teen wants to be able to practice her Christian religion and would not feel safe doing that at her parents’ home.

Police in Florida and Columbus found no evidence that the girl faced harm in Ohio.

The family alleges that Christian pastors helped her flee to Orlando, Fla., in July. Police in Columbus are investigating whether anyone broke the law helping her leave home.

Bonnie Vangeloff, a court-appointed attorney who represents the girl’s rights as a child in foster care, told the judge the family is in deep need of counseling but that reconciliation is probably unlikely before the girl turns 18.

Tuesday’s hearing also touched on Bary’s immigration status. Her attorneys raised the issue in a recent court filing that noted federal law allows “an undocumented immigrant minor” to receive permanent resident status when placed in long-term foster care by a judge. In court, Lloyd confirmed that the girl is an illegal immigrant.

“Unlike her parents, if reconciliation fails, at 18 then she is without legal status,” Lloyd said.

The immigration status of parents Mohamed and Aysha Bary is unclear. Attorneys have been under a gag order not to comment on the case.