Rifqa Bary
Rifqa Bary

Religious Runaway Returns To Ohio

Tuesday,  October 27, 2009 11:44 AM

Updated: Tuesday,  October 27, 2009 1:37 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Rifqa Bary returned to Ohio on Tuesday and was placed in custody of Franklin County Children Services, Florida authorities close to the case said.

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, Bary, 17, arrived in Columbus from Orlando, Fla. shortly before noon.

Earlier in the day, a judge in Columbus ordered state officials to monitor Bary's telephone and Internet usage after her arrival.

Franklin County Children Services asked a court to restrict Bary's Internet and phone access, saying Facebook and other "outside" influences prompted to her to run away from home in the first place.

Attorneys representing Bary opposed the request to restrict her Internet and phone access, saying the problems were caused by a conflict between Bary and her parents, not the Internet.

Bary, 17, said she fled her New Albany home in July because she feared her father would harm her over her conversion from Islam to Christianity.

She traveled to Orlando where she lived temporarily with a pastor and his wife.

Investigators in Florida found no evidence to support Bary's claims that she would be harmed, and court proceedings recently cleared her to be returned to Ohio and placed in the custody of Franklin County Children Services.

Members of the Bary family have denied accusations that the teenager would be harmed for changing religions.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

Previous Stories:

October 23, 2009: Religious Runaway Cleared To Return Home
October 13, 2009: Religious Runaway To Return To Ohio
September 22, 2009:  Fla. Pastor Under Investigation In Convert Case
September 21, 2009: Religious Runaway To Stay In Florida For Now
September 14, 2009:  Fla. Authorities: No Evidence Runaway Convert Is In Danger
September 11, 2009: Strickland: Handle Runaway Convert Case In Ohio
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

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