Legal Commentary

The Latest in the Rifqa Bary Case

By Eugene Volokh

This is the case I blogged about a few months ago, in which a 17-year-old girl from a Muslim family ran away from home, claiming her father had threatened to ?hurt her, kill her or send her back to Sri Lanka? because she had converted to Christianity. A police investigation apparently concluded that the girl?s charges were unfounded, though obviously there?s still a factual dispute between the girls and the parents on this. Now here?s the latest, from the AP:

[Bary and her family] must listen to each other?s views about religion if they are to reunite, a possibility that appears in jeopardy since the girl continues to refuse any contact with her parents or siblings, a caseworker says.

A case-management plan filed Monday said Rifqa Bary and her parents should hear what each has to say about Islam and Christianity as a step toward a possible reunification. But the plan, written by a government caseworker, also said ?severe differences? exist between the 17-year-old girl and her parents over what led Rifqa to run away to Florida over the summer....

Bary?s parents, Mohamed and Aysha Bary, agree with their daughter being in foster care for the moment, but are concerned about her and would like a family relationship with her again, according to the plan....

Thanks to Religion Clause for the pointer.

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on December 02, 2009 (boomark / email).