Rifqa Bary must return to her parents in Ohio

The ruling was a victory for parents Mohamed and Aysha Bary, who had requested that their daughter's custody be transferred to Ohio while other issues in the case are settled. The teen's attorney, John Stemburger, who leads a Christian advocacy organization, opposed the move.

Seventeen-year-old Rifqa Bary left her family in Columbus, Ohio, in July 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 has denied the allegation.

In Tuesday's ruling, Judge Daniel Dawson said it was in Bary's best interest for her emergency custody continue in Ohio.

The transfer will not happen until the teen's immigration status is determined, however, the judge said.

Attorneys for the parents, who are from Sri Lanka, said required immigration documents will be submitted to the court within two weeks. A status hearing has been set for October 23 in case the paperwork has not been filed.

The ruling follows months of legal wrangling, including the affidavit from the teenager claiming that her father was pressured by the family's mosque in Ohio to "deal with the situation," referring to her conversion. In an earlier court filing, Rifqa Bary alleged that her father said, "If you have this Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me!" The teenager claims her father added, "I will kill you!" Mohamed Bary, 47, has denied the accusations.

Perhaps we'll never know how much truth is in young Rifqa's words. It is obvious that she was genuinely frightened. But was she imagining the danger? The father swears he never threatened her and that she can practice any religion she chooses. But I have a feeling if the father had said those things, Ms. Bary would not have run away.

That said, all we can do is hope for the best and that the family can work it out now that the glare of publicity has faded.