Runaway Christian convert granted U.S. residency

By the CNN Wire Staff
September 7, 2010

(CNN) A runaway who said her father threatened to kill her for converting to Christianity from Islam has been granted permanent residency in the United States, her lawyer told CNN on Tuesday.

Rifqa Bary, 18, who was an undocumented immigrant until recently, left her family in Columbus, Ohio, in July 2009 and took refuge in the home of a minister in Orlando, Florida. The girl was later moved into foster care after she said in an affidavit that her Muslim father had threatened her after finding out about her conversion. Her father denies the allegation.

Bary had said in court that she could not reunite with her parents and needed permission to live in the United States. the rest