Why Rifqa Bary Fled Islam to Follow Jesus

CBN News first learned the name Rifqa Bary in 2009, when the then-teenager ran away from home to escape her Muslim family.

When Bary was 16 years old, her Muslim parents found out she had renounced Islam and had become a Christian. That's when she ran away from home in Ohio and took refuge with Christians in Florida she had met on Facebook.

Bary had heard stories of so-called honor killings for those who renounce Islam, and she feared that if she returned home, her father would try to kill her.

"This is not just some threat; this is reality. This is truth," Bary said.

Bary's parents denied their daughter's claims and fought to have her returned home.

Police in Florida and Ohio found no evidence she was in danger, but because she was a minor, Bary remained in Ohio state custody until her 18th birthday.

Today, the 22-year-old college student tells her remarkable story in a new book, Hiding in the Light: Why I Risked Everything to Leave Islam and Follow Jesus.

Rifqa Bary spoke with CBN Host Pat Robertson about her experiences. Click play to watch.