Today's Update:
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/a...e-defense.html
A summary from an Atlas operative and former juvenile court prosecutor, John Joseph Jay:
I am encouraged that the judge/magistrate who heard the case today seems to be exercising a modicum of good sense, and in no manner seems to be tolerating any posturing on the part of the Bary parent's lawyer.
This is good.
On the other hand, I am very concerned by what i would consider the passivity of Rifqa's attorney, and the county's lawyer, with regard to presenting a more aggressive defense on her behalf, to include efforts at getting the issues of "apostasy" and "honor killings" before the court.
Some of you are under the impression that if we know about these things, thanks to our friend Pamela and friend Spencer, then somehow the court knows about these issues and will consider them in a hearing on the merits. that is not the case.
The court will not consider matters that are not competently before it and admitted into evidence upon the motion and presentation of one of the parties.
So,
unless Rifqa's lawyers introduce evidence of apostasy, via experts such as Spencer who can testify to its textual basis in the koran, and from experts who are historians or perhaps apostates themselves, the court simply will not consider such matters. something in the reports caused me serious pause.-- it pertains to the court's attitude on "mediation" and "counseling," and the quite evident tactic of the lawyers to settle this case, if only Rifqa is "ready" or "willing" to undergo mediation, which she has refused, or might consider a lesser level of "personal counseling" about being re-united with her family.
If she weakens under the strain, and agrees to "settling" the case on those terms, then it is quite likely that any "dependency plan" submitted by the Franklin County child services staff would called for such a "remedy," in conjunction for an eventual return to her family. This possibility as a case outcome was not eliminated by today's hearing, and, indeed, the feel of the situation that I come away from this with, is that the institutional bias of court, counsel and county prosecutor is aimed in this direction. this could result in the tragedy of this girl's death if she goes home, and refuses to repudiate Christianity.
Friends, keep those cards and letters coming. send some more tomorrow. and, Pamela, keep fighting for an adequate defense. i just don't think these people who "represent" Rifqa Bary have the slightest intellectual comprehension of what they are dealing with, as regards islam as a religious institution. It just will not "compute" in their little pea heads that things like apostasy are actual religious doctrine, and they are too damned intellectually lazy to find out anything different.
She is not out of the woods, not by a long shot.
PS. i know. earlier on i had more faith that the lawyers involved with Rifqa had more intellectual capacity than they are demonstrating to this point. and, that they were a little more ambitious in their work habits. forgive them, they know not what they are doing.