For months we’ve been involved in the life and death drama of seventeen year old Rifqa Bary. Rifqa ran away from home last year after her devout Muslim father threatened her life for converting to Christianity. Muslim honor killings are common in the Islamic world and Rifqa rightly feared for her life.

After a dramatic legal struggle, Rifqa ended up in foster care in Ohio. During the custody battle, it became known that Rifqa’s family was in the country illegally. So her attorney asked a judge to grant Rifqa special immigration status so when she turned eighteen in August she would not be in the US illegally. If Rifqa was forced to go back to Sri Lanka she would be in even greater danger of a Muslim honor killing. 

You helped us keep the pressure on and thanks to your help the judged agreed. Now Rifqa is safe and legally in the country!