Runaway Princess Bride's Family Relents

M A N A M A, Bahrain, July 25 -- The family of a Bahraini princess who eloped with a U.S. Marine is willing to accept the teenager’s wish to remain in the United States.

The family is even willing to facilitate her stay there, the family’s spokesman and lawyer said Monday.

“The family is still eager for her return home but is willingto accept her stay in the United States if that’s her desire,”said Qays Hatim Zu‘bi of the princess, 19-year-old Meriam AlKhalifa.

“Their main concern is her health and happiness. They wantassurances that she will be well looked after,” Zu‘bi told TheAssociated Press in an interview. “Should she require assistance,the family is willing to help her in every way,” he said.

Still, she could face deportation over charges she used falsedocuments to enter the United States.

Family Hopes for ‘Smooth Resolution’

Al Khalifa met Jason Johnson last year at a mall in the Bahrainicapital of Manama, where the 25-year-old Marine was assigned to asecurity unit. As his deployment was ending late last year on theGulf island nation, he forged U.S. military documents used by AlKhalifa to fly to the United States. Immigration officials inChicago discovered the ruse.

An immigration judge on July 17 ruled that she must face chargesof illegally entering the United States.

Al Khalifa plans to apply for political asylum on the groundsthat she faces persecution for marrying a non-Muslim if she returnsto Bahrain, according to her attorney, Jan Joseph Bejar.

Al Khalifa and her husband, who married in Las Vegas, live onCamp Pendleton, a Marine base 40 miles north of San Diego, Calif.

“Her family is concerned about her and hope that everythingwill be resolved smoothly,” said Zu‘bi of the immigration charges.

Husband Non Grata

The family has been in touch with the princess on the telephoneand by electronic mail. “In every e-mail and phone call, Meriamhas been apologizing to her family,” said Zu‘bi of the princess.

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