US residency for Muslim girl who became Christian

El Paso News.Net
Tuesday 7th September, 2010

A runaway teenager has been granted full residency in the US after she said she wanted to convert from the Muslim faith to Christianity.

The 18 year old girl had fled her Muslim parents to live in Ohio as an illegal resident after they allegedly threatened her with harm for converting.

A lawyer for Rifqa Bary has said the Sri Lankan girl got her permanent residency card last week and can apply for citizenship in five years.

From now she can apply for a driver’s license, Medicaid coverage and college scholarships.

The teenager, who is suffering uterine cancer, will now be able to get full health coverage.

Ms Bary had argued she could not reunite with her Muslim parents due to threats of an "honor killing."

Police investigating the case said they could find no signs of abuse while her parents denied that the would have been harmed.

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