Muslim Who Converted To Christianity Sues Tulsa Church After Torture In Syria

TULSA, Oklahoma -

A Tulsa County man is suing First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa and its pastor, blaming them for publicizing his conversion from Islam to Christianity which he claims led to him being tortured when he visited Syria.

The man is referred to as John Doe in court documents because his attorneyssay using his real name would expose him to physical harm or even death.

According to the suit, which was filed on June 9, 2014, the plaintiff moved to the United Statesat about the time he became an adult. Hehas completed all the requirements to become a United Statecitizen except for taking the oath of citizenship, which he will do as soon as his adopted country schedules it,the suit says.

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The plaintiff says hebecame involved in the Christianfaith at First Presbyterian Church which led to his decision toconvert to Christianity. The suit claims he discussed his decision with the leadership of the church, including pastor Dr. Jim Miller. It also claims they discussed at length the need for his conversion to remain confidential, becauseSharia law calls for the death of anyone who converts to another religion from Islam.

The plaintiff says he agreed to be baptized on December 30, 2012 only after being assured by the defendants that his baptism would be kept private. He was scheduled to fly to Syria that same day and claims in his lawsuit that the defendants knew that.

First Presbyterian Church published the news of his baptism on January 6, 2013, according to the suit. The suit claims two church leaders told him they were "horrified" that the church had published the announcement and promised to remove it, but the plaintiff says they did not do so until April of 2014.

The plaintiff says he was in Damascus, Syria in mid-January of 2013 when he was confronted by radical Muslims who told him they'd read about his conversion to Christianity on the internet. Even though he denied it, the accusers tiedand blindfolded him and told him they were going to carry out the death sentence.

He was bound, beaten and forced to spend up to 18 hours a day in a 55-gallon "electrified drum," he claims in the suit. He says he was periodically taken out andtortured and his captors told him he was going to be beheaded.

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Muslim Who Converted To Christianity Sues Tulsa Church After Torture In Syria