: It’s the Law in South Dakota: Convert to Islam, Lose Your Child

Citing a woman’s conversion to Islam as a sign of “bizarre behavior” that made her unfit to be a mother, a South Dakota judge removed her 5-year old son Trevor and gave temporary custody of him to his grandparents. Sally Rederth Barakat, 29, married Osama Barakat in Egypt last October and converted to Islam in February. The US Embassy certified the marriage in advance. She planned to move to Egypt temporarily until her new husband completed military obligations, triggering fear in the child’s grandparents that she would raise her son Muslim in Egypt. “My wife and I are very concerned about Trevor’s safety,” explained Conrad Rederth, the child’s grandfather. “Trevor’s mother has engaged in some bizarre behavior, including wearing Muslim garb and declaring herself a Muslim.” Muslim groups in the Minneapolis area, along with CAIR, are raising money for the woman’s legal efforts.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.