Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland believes the case of a Muslim girl who ran away to Florida after converting to Christianity should by handled by Ohio authorities.
Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said Friday that the state has no reason to believe that
Rifqa Bary would be unsafe in Ohio.
Wurst says Strickland believes the case belongs in Ohio because it is a family matter that
can be handled by the state's child welfare and foster care system.
A Florida judge is deciding whether the 17-year-old girl, currently in foster care in
Florida, should be returned to Ohio.
The girl ran away from her parents' suburban Columbus home in July, saying she feared being
killed for changing religions.
A lawyer for Rifqa Bary's mother, Aysha, says an investigation by the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement found no evidence to support the girl's claim.
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Previous Stories:
September 3, 2009:
Judge Sealed Police Report For Runaway Convert
September 2, 2009:
Islamic Center Denies Accusations In Convert Case
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
