An Islamic Cultural Center that has been thrust into the fight over a runaway religious convert responded Wednesday to allegations that it has ties to terrorism and honor killings.
Leaders at the Noor Islamic Center said the allegations, which surfaced earlier this week, were false, 10TV's Cara Connelly reported.
A Florida laywer representing Rifqa Bary, 17, of New Albany, claimed the center ordered Bary's father to take care of his daughter after learning of her conversion from Islam to Christianity.
Bary said she fled Ohio and sought help from an Orlando, Fla. Pastor and his wife because she feared she would be killed.
Attorney John Stemberger alleges that the Noor Islamic Center urged Bary's father to discipline his daughter.
"The father only confronted Rifqa with violence and threats of violence after the mosque found out that she became a Christian," Stemberger said. "They sent several e-mails and several phone calls saying, 'You need to deal with this immediately.'"
Adnan Mirza, a member of the Noor Islamic Center, denied those claims.
"It's one of those baseless accusations and just some of the propaganda out there," Mirza said. "There's nothing in the Koran that mentions honor killings. It's completely baseless."
Mirza also said the claims about the center supporting honor killings were not true.
"That is one of those things that's cultural; it goes on overseas, unfortunately," he said. "We don't know of anyone (and) we haven't been involved in anything like that. We don't condone it. It's strictly prohibited in Islam."
Leaders at the center also said they only have records that Bary attended Sunday school three times in 2007, which is much different than information included in her sworn affidavit, Connelly reported.
Bary claimed that for several months she was required to go to five-hour youth gatherings at the center.
Another hearing in the case is scheduled for Thursday.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
Previous Stories:
September 1, 2009:
New Allegations Surface In Runaway Convert Case
August 21, 2009:
Runaway Convert To Remain In Fla.
August 12, 2009:
Father Denies Threatening Daughter Over Religious Conversion
August 11, 2009:
Teen Says Father Will Kill Her Over Religious Conversion
August 7, 2009:
Missing Teen Found Safe In Fla.
July 31, 2009:
After Nearly 2 Weeks, New Albany Teen Still Missing
