Latest news with #Soliman
4 days ago
- Politics
What to know about Ayman Soliman, the detained Muslim chaplain whose supporters were arrested
More than a dozen people protesting the detainment of a Muslim chaplain were arrested Thursday night in Cincinnati. Video from the demonstration shows some protesters blocking the Roebling Bridge that carries traffic between Ohio and Kentucky, as well as one officer punching a protester while others wrestle him to the ground. At least 13 people were arrested, including two journalists. The demonstrators were there to support Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant who has worked as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and was detained last week during a check-in with immigration officials. Here's what to know about his case: Soliman, 51, served as an imam — a Muslim religious leader — in Egypt for 14 years before fleeing to the United States in 2014, according to the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, where he serves as a board member. According to his lawyers, he was granted asylum in 2018 based on past persecution for his work as a journalist in Egypt during the Arab Spring uprising. His lawyers say he was jailed and tortured for reporting on the intense political conflict. Soliman was hired as a prison chaplain in Oregon but soon lost that job after the FBI placed an unexplained 'flag' on his background profile. In a case that is still pending, he sued to get more information about the flag and to clear his name. In 2021, Soliman began working at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where his lawyers say he was 'beloved for his steady presence at the side of ill children, parents and other caregivers.' He has a wife and child who remain in Egypt. In late 2024, a U.S. asylum officer began proceedings to terminate Soliman's asylum status, according to his legal team. The officer cited Soliman's board membership of an organization called Al-Jameya al Shareya as 'material support for terrorism" given the group's links to the Muslim Brotherhood. The U.S. has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, though President Donald Trump considered it during his first term. Soliman's lawyers say the Al-Jameya al Shareya is not a terrorist group but rather a nongovernmental organization that provides medical and charitable community services. They accuse the government, which knew about the board membership when it granted asylum, of reversing course in retaliation against his lawsuit. 'After Mr. Soliman stood up for his rights in court, an individual officer decided to take the extreme, unusual and incorrect decision of terminating his lawful status,' they wrote in an update shared by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance on Wednesday. 'What's more, Mr. Soliman's need for asylum has not changed,' they said. 'He faces death if forced to return to Egypt.' Soliman's asylum status was reversed in early June. He was detained on July 9 during a check-in with immigration officials and has been held at the Butler County Jail. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on Soliman's case Friday. On the day of Soliman's arrest, the agency's assistant secretary for public affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, wrote on X that 'this Egyptian national was flagged on the FBI terror watchlist.' 'He had his asylum status revoked by the (asterisk)checks notes(asterisk) BIDEN Administration,' she wrote. A federal court has granted a temporary restraining order preventing Soliman from being moved out of Ohio before Wednesday, the date of his bond hearing. He also is due to make an initial appearance in immigration court Tuesday, but will participate via video feed from the jail.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Cincinnati Children's chaplain detained by ICE
This story has been updated with new information. Federal immigration officials detained a former Cincinnati Children's hospital chaplain on July 9, about seven months after revoking his asylum status. Friends and supporters of Imam Ayman Soliman said officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took him into custody after a scheduled meeting with ICE in Blue Ash. Soliman came to the United States from Egypt about a decade ago, according to federal court records, and received asylum status in June 2018. His supporters, including local clergy, politicians and representatives from Ignite Peace, said he was fleeing persecution in Egypt and feared his life would be in danger if ICE sent him home. At a press conference in the afternoon on July 9, those supporters said ICE officials rescinded Soliman's asylum in December 2024 and detained him after meeting with him and his lawyers earlier in the day. They said the meeting included FBI agents and lasted three hours. "We are shocked as a community, who is already vulnerable, who already feels targeted," said Tala Ali, chair of the Clifton Mosque and the Islamic Association of Cincinnati. "To have one of our leaders and our elders in our community be detained in such fashion is very alarming." Neither ICE nor Cincinnati Children's officials could immediately be reached to comment. Soliman sued U.S. over 'FBI flag' While awaiting resolution of his asylum request, Soliman was permitted to work in the United States and spent at least some of that time as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children's. He also has presided over services at the Clifton Mosque, according to the mosque's website. Federal court documents indicate Soliman's family in Egypt had a pending request to join him in the United States. Soliman sued federal officials several times in recent years, claiming in 2022 they had violated his constitutional rights and his privacy by disclosing "stigmatizing statements about him." In one lawsuit, Soliman indicated that after applying for a job as a prison chaplain, he learned an "FBI flag" appeared on his background check. He said in the lawsuit that his fingerprints did not match prints that the check turned up on the government's terrorism screening database. Soliman said he believes he was improperly targeted because of his Muslim faith. The government, which presented no evidence that Soliman had engaged in illegal activity, disputed his accusations and denied wrongdoing. A judge dismissed some of Soliman's claims earlier this year, but two lawsuits remain unresolved. 'His absence is deeply felt' In the weeks since his asylum status ended, more than a dozen colleagues, clergy and parents of former Cincinnati Children's patients wrote letters on Soliman's behalf, describing him as a caring advocate for grieving parents and a valued coworker who is fluent in several languages, including Arabic and Spanish. "His contributions to our hospital community have been immeasurable, and his absence is deeply felt," wrote the Rev. Adam Allen, a fellow chaplain at Children's. "I have seen the manner in which Ayman so skillfully and gently supports families during the unimaginable," wrote Alexandra Hausfeld, a Cincinnati Children's nurse. "Ayman is a man of faith and compassion – I can truthfully attest that he is one of the most humble and hardworking individuals I have met, personally and professionally." Audrey Kandil, whose son spent six months at Cincinnati Children's hospital before recovering and returning home, said she and her family met with Soliman almost every day her son was in the hospital's intensive care unit. She said his presence also was invaluable when her Arabic-speaking in-laws arrived and needed someone to explain to them in their native language what was happening to their grandson. "Ayman Soliman kept my husband and I sane," Kandil wrote. "He offered us support, a friendly face, and a resource that no other medical professional could offer us." Other letter-writers expressed concern for Soliman's safety if ICE sent him back to Egypt, which he fled more than a decade ago. Friends said he still has family in Egypt, including a child, but is unable to return because his life would be in danger. Why Soliman left Egypt The letters don't describe the nature of the threat or the reason he fled Egypt, but many said Soliman spoke on occasion about his fear of returning home. A lawyer with the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, which represented Soliman in his lawsuits against the government, said he ran afoul of government officials in Egypt while working as a journalist. The lawyer, Christina Jump, said he was jailed and tortured. "As a result, he sought asylum in the U.S., hoping for free speech and laws that prevent that from happening," Jump said. Judith Ragsdale, an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati who knows Soliman, said he sometimes spoke about being the victim of "persecution and torture." "The value he brings to the United States is immense," Ragsdale said. "The danger to him if he leaves is likewise enormous." Until at least February of this year, Soliman appeared as chaplain on Cincinnati Children's website, though references to him have since been removed. Asylum seekers like Soliman often are permitted to remain in the United States while their application is under review and after being granted asylum. But if asylum is revoked, they become eligible for deportation. Soliman received notice that the government intended to revoke his asylum in December, in the final weeks of President Joe Biden's administration. The revocation officially happened last month, under President Donald Trump. On the same day Soliman was arrested, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, accused the Trump administration of targeting Muslims for deportation during his nationwide immigration crackdown. About 75 people turned out for the press conference with Soliman's supporters Wednesday, and several tied Soliman's detention to Trump's recent immigration crackdown nationwide. Ohio Rep. Karen Brownlee, a Symmes Township Democrat, said Soliman's situation is the product of a broken immigration system. "The system has failed you, and that is why we are at this point today," Brownlee said. "People are afraid to even leave their homes if they do not have full citizenship." Khalid Turaani, executive director of CAIR in Columbus, said Soliman's detention is "a travesty for Americans." He said he spoke to Soliman recently about his fear that ICE would send him back to Egypt. "It was one thing on his mind," Turaani said. "He was saying, 'I just can't imagine what they would do to me if I'm deported to my homeland.'" This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati chaplain Imam Ayman Soliman detained by ICE Solve the daily Crossword
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
What to know about Ayman Soliman, the detained Muslim chaplain whose supporters were arrested
More than a dozen people protesting the detainment of a Muslim chaplain were arrested Thursday night in Cincinnati. Video from the demonstration shows some protesters blocking the Roebling Bridge that carries traffic between Ohio and Kentucky, as well as one officer punching a protester while others wrestle him to the ground. At least 13 people were arrested, including two journalists. The demonstrators were there to support Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant who has worked as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and was detained last week during a check-in with immigration officials. Here's what to know about his case: Who is Ayman Soliman? Soliman, 51, served as an imam — a Muslim religious leader — in Egypt for 14 years before fleeing to the United States in 2014, according to the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, where he serves as a board member. According to his lawyers, he was granted asylum in 2018 based on past persecution for his work as a journalist in Egypt during the Arab Spring uprising. His lawyers say he was jailed and tortured for reporting on the intense political conflict. Soliman was hired as a prison chaplain in Oregon but soon lost that job after the FBI placed an unexplained 'flag' on his background profile. In a case that is still pending, he sued to get more information about the flag and to clear his name. In 2021, Soliman began working at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where his lawyers say he was 'beloved for his steady presence at the side of ill children, parents and other caregivers.' He has a wife and child who remain in Egypt. Why was he detained? In late 2024, a U.S. asylum officer began proceedings to terminate Soliman's asylum status, according to his legal team. The officer cited Soliman's board membership of an organization called Al-Jameya al Shareya as 'material support for terrorism' given the group's links to the Muslim Brotherhood. The U.S. has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, though President Donald Trump considered it during his first term. Soliman's lawyers say the Al-Jameya al Shareya is not a terrorist group but rather a nongovernmental organization that provides medical and charitable community services. They accuse the government, which knew about the board membership when it granted asylum, of reversing course in retaliation against his lawsuit. 'After Mr. Soliman stood up for his rights in court, an individual officer decided to take the extreme, unusual and incorrect decision of terminating his lawful status,' they wrote in an update shared by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance on Wednesday. 'What's more, Mr. Soliman's need for asylum has not changed,' they said. 'He faces death if forced to return to Egypt.' Soliman's asylum status was reversed in early June. He was detained on July 9 during a check-in with immigration officials and has been held at the Butler County Jail. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on Soliman's case Friday. On the day of Soliman's arrest, the agency's assistant secretary for public affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, wrote on X that 'this Egyptian national was flagged on the FBI terror watchlist.' 'He had his asylum status revoked by the (asterisk)checks notes(asterisk) BIDEN Administration,' she wrote. What happens next? A federal court has granted a temporary restraining order preventing Soliman from being moved out of Ohio before Wednesday, the date of his bond hearing. He also is due to make an initial appearance in immigration court Tuesday, but will participate via video feed from the jail.
Time Magazine
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Colorado Firebomb Attack Case Moving Forward: What to Know
Prosecutors' case against the man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a crowd of demonstrators in Boulder, Colo., who were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza will move ahead after the suspect waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. The hearing was intended to assess whether there was enough evidence for the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, to stand trial. But Soliman's lawyer told the judge he would give up his right to hear the evidence, the Associated Press reported, and the judge ruled that prosecutors could proceed with their case. An arraignment hearing, where Soliman will enter a plea in the state case, is scheduled for September 9. Soliman, 45, faces a total of more than 150 state charges and 12 federal hate crime counts after allegedly throwing an incendiary device towards a crowd of demonstrators in the June 1 attack while yelling 'Free Palestine,' according to law enforcement. The Boulder District Attorney's Office has identified nearly 30 victims of the attack, including 13 who suffered physical injuries. Eight people who sustained burns and other injuries were hospitalized. A dog was also harmed during the incident. Soliman was originally charged with 118 criminal counts, including several for attempted first degree murder, on June 5. The Boulder County District Attorney charged him with an additional 66 counts and amended some others he previously faced after 82-year-old Karen Diamond passed away as a result of wounds she sustained in the attack later in June. Soliman previously pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. He requested that the preliminary hearing be set back to the end of October due to what his counsel referred to as 'significant collateral implications' that could not be addressed ahead of the July 15 date. 'Counsel is not aware of an autopsy report being produced yet,' the motion read. 'Additionally, there will be significant medical records that need to be provided and reviewed in advance of such hearing.' The request was denied. Here's what to know about Soliman and what he's accused of. Who is Mohamed Sabry Soliman? Soliman is an Egyptian national who first entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a B-2 tourist visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He applied for asylum in September of that year, though details on his application have not publicly been reported. A spokeswoman for DHS previously told TIME that Soliman overstayed his visa, which expired in February 2023. The suspect was living in Colorado Springs with his family prior to his arrest on June 1. Soliman told police following the attack that he wanted to kill all Zionists, adding that he 'wished they were dead,' according to an FBI affidavit. He also allegedly informed authorities that he was waiting for his daughter to graduate to conduct the attack, which he said he had been planning for at least a year. Soliman's wife and five children were detained by immigration authorities in June to investigate whether the family knew of the suspect's intention, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Officials moved to expedite the removal of Soliman's family from the country, but their deportation was temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Earlier this month, a federal judge in Texas dismissed the family's petition to be released from immigration custody. What happened in the attack? Demonstrators from 'Run for Their Lives,' which stages weekly events to advocate for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, gathered at a park in front of the Boulder County Courthouse on June 1. Soliman allegedly entered the park carrying a backpack with 18 glass bottles and jars, as well as flammable liquid and red rags, and approached the group, according to the Justice Department. At around 1:30 p.m. local time, authorities allege Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails towards the crowd and yelled 'Free Palestine!' Twenty-nine victims have been identified, one of whom, 82-year-old Diamond, died on June 25 as a result of her injuries. Following the attack, authorities recovered a handwritten document from Soliman's vehicle that said, 'Zionism is our enemies untill [sic] Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land.' Soliman confessed to authorities that he committed the attack, according to the FBI affidavit. He said he initially tried to buy a firearm, per Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell, but could not purchase one because he was not a legal citizen and instead used Molotov cocktails.
Toronto Star
15-07-2025
- Toronto Star
State prosecution in firebombing attack on demonstration for Israeli hostages moves ahead
DENVER (AP) — A judge ruled Tuesday that Colorado prosecutors can move ahead with their case against a man accused of killing one person and injuring a dozen more in a firebomb attack on demonstrators showing support for Israeli hostages in Gaza. A police detective had been set to testify at a hearing explaining the evidence gathered against Mohamed Sabry Soliman in the June 1 attack on the weekly event in Boulder. But Soliman's lawyer, Kathryn Herold, told Judge Nancy W. Salomone that he gave up his right to hear the evidence.
