Bahrani Princess Asks Judge to Stay in U.S.

July 16, 2000 -- The international tug of war over the princessand the private continues Monday at an immigration hearing inCalifornia.

The State Department wants her deported, although she will ask an immigration judge tomorrow that she be allowed to stay because she claims she’ll be persecuted for marrying a non-Muslim if she returns.

“Her family loves her and is really hoping that she will returnhome,” to Bahrain, an Information Ministry official said of Mariam Al Khalifa,19. “She made a mistake and they are willing to forgive her.”

The official refused to comment when asked whether Al Khalifa’shusband, Pfc. Jason Johnson, also would be welcome.

Bahraini royalty rarely marry outside the family circle. Theyalso belong to Islam’s mainstream Sunni sect. Islam forbids Muslimwomen to marry non-Muslim men, though Muslim men can marry outsidetheir faith.

Al Khalifa met Johnson, who is not a Muslim, last year at a mallin the Bahraini capital of Manama, where the 25-year-old Marine wasassigned to a security unit. As his deployment was ending late lastyear, he forged U.S. military documents used by Al Khalifa to flyto the United States on a commercial airplane. Immigrationofficials in Chicago discovered the ruse.

Johnson Demoted

The Marine Corps demoted Johnson from lance corporal to privatefirst class and assigned him extra duty. The couple, who married inLas Vegas, live on the Camp Pendleton military base, north of SanDiego.

The U.S. State Department wants Al Khalifa deported. She hasrequested asylum, saying she would face persecution for marrying anon-Muslim if she returns to Bahrain. She is to appear at animmigration hearing Monday.

The Information Ministry official said Al Khalifa would not beharmed.

Al Khalifa has won support from U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, aCalifornia Democrat, who urged U.S. immigration officials in aletter Thursday to allow her to remain in the country.

Al Khalifa’s father is believed to be a cousin of Bahrain’s headof state, Emir Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Bahrain is a small island nation off the eastern coast of SaudiArabia that also is the regional base for the U.S. Navy’s 5thFleet.