<p>By SARAH NETTER
Aug. 13, 2009 </p>
<p>The Muslim parents of an Ohio teenager who fled to Florida fearing an “honor killing” for converting to Christianity today blamed their daughter’s fears on the husband and wife pastors who took their daughter in and didn’t report her presence for more than two weeks. </p>
<p>Continued here: [Muslim</a> Father Denies Threatening to Kill Teen Over Conversion to Christianity - ABC News](<a href=“Muslim Parents Deny Threatening Daughter With Honor Killing Over Christianity - ABC News”>Muslim Parents Deny Threatening Daughter With Honor Killing Over Christianity - ABC News)</p>
<p>She is 17 and unless there is proof of abuse by the parents. IMHO she goes home. At 18 she can join the circus for all I care. Until such time she is a minor and her parents get the final say.</p>
<p>Children are told over and over again to go to a trusted adult if they have been abused or are experiencing threats of abuse. This girl did just that, and to return her to the home without an extensive investigation into the situation would be wrong. Many families look fine from the outside, but harbor incredible dysfunction and/or abuse (either physical or emotional) underneath. Google “honor killings” and you will find that this is a huge (and largely unaddressed) problem. This young girl may very well have good reason to want to be away from her family.</p>
<p>Obviously they should investigate this before deciding whether the daughter has to go back or not. There are certainly plenty of abusive parents out there who hit/threaten/etc their kids. </p>
<p>Something about that “Global Revolution Church” pastor gives me the “no feeling”, though. Regardless of whether she goes back to her family or not, I do not think she should stay with them.</p>
<p>“She is 17 and unless there is proof of abuse by the parents.”</p>
<p>It takes only substantial evidence; her death could be the only proof.</p>
<p>There also could be a cult like brain washing of a 17 year old. Should parents lose parental rights without evidence of wrongdoing?</p>
<p>Authorities must indeed weigh available evidence before deciding a course of action.</p>