Honor Killings Come to America [Excerpts]
Muslim women overseas have long had to deal with the threat of honor killings, but several incidents in recent years show that the threat has come to American soil.
A 17-year old girl named Fathima Rifqa Bary is currently engaged in a custody battle after fleeing her father in Ohio, who she claimed threatened to kill her for converting to Christianity. She is currently living with Pastors Blake and Beverly Lorenz of Global Revolution Church in Orlando, who she became friends with through Facebook.
Bary says she took an approximately 30-hour bus ride from Ohio to Orlando in September to save her life. A video of her testimony has been posted on YouTube, where she cries as she explains that her family is required by Islam to execute her and that she’d die within a week of going back to Ohio.
Her father, Mohamed, however, is saying she did not flee out of fear, but because of a verbal fight with her mother over her leaving the house without permission and says that the church has brainwashed Fathima.
“This is a cult group who kidnapped my daughter and took her away,” he said.
The pastors have rejected the allegation, saying she converted to Christianity before they even met.
On February 12, a Muslim TV broadcaster portraying himself as a moderate named Muzzammil Hassan reported to the police that his wife was dead, leading to his arrest. He pled not guilty in court. His wife was found stabbed several times and with her head severed after she handed him divorce papers. She had previously told the police that her husband was abusive and controlling, and cited “cruel and inhumane treatment” when she filed for divorce six days earlier.
Hassan had previously received an award from the Council on American-Islamic Relations in 2007 for his creation of Bridges TV, which he had ironically said was aimed at fighting back against anti-Muslim sentiment and stereotypes.
