Clergy rally for just review of Imam Ayman Soliman’s case

The undersigned imams and Islamic leaders of Ohio, out of moral and humanitarian concern, have released a written plea to express their support for Imam Ayman Soliman and to respectfully call for a just and transparent review of his current immigration situation.

Imam Soliman is a respected religious figure who has served the Greater Cincinnati community for years, including his work as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he provided spiritual support to families of all faiths, the imams state.

In 2018, following the established legal process, he was granted asylum. Since then, he has lived a peaceful, productive and law- abiding life in the United States.On July 9, Imam Soliman was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the unexplained revocation of his asylum status. He is being held in the Butler County Jail.

“As clergy and community leaders, we are concerned with the lack of transparency surrounding this detention, which has raised significant questions regarding due process and the protections afforded to asylees in the U.S. In observing their duties of enforcing the immigration laws, it is imperative that immigration authorities provide due process and uphold the principles of justice and human dignity—principles

that form the foundation of both our faith and our country’s legal system,’ they write.

The imams urge the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to: Review Imam Ayman Soliman’s detention with urgency and transparency; Ensure that he is afforded full due process in all legal proceedings; Consider his positive contributions to the community and demonstration of good moral character as relevant factors in adjudicating his case.

They invite fellow faith leaders, community advocates, and citizens committed to justice and human rights to join them in supporting a fair and lawful resolution to this matter. 

Signed: Imam Hossam Musa – Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati; Imam Ihab Alsaghier – Ihsan Center; Imam Fawzan Hansbhai – Islamic Center of Mason; Imam Faraz Malik – Islamic Center of Mason; Imam Baseer Faiz – Dayton Mercy Society Tala; Mohammad Ali – Clifton Mosque; Imam Yahya Hansbhai- Chaplain; Imam Abdelghader Ould Siyam Imam Mahmoud Aly – Islamic Society of Greater Dayton; Imam Ismail Gula – Islamic Center of Peace; Imam Mahmoud Khalil – ICGC; Yousef Mohamad.

The Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis, stated they are alarmed by the unjust detention of Imam Ayman Soliman. 

“Many of us personally know and have worked with Imam Soliman. For years, he has been a model member of and leader in Cincinnati’s faith community. 

“Recognizing the complexity of immigration cases, we affirm that Imam Soliman represents precisely the type of person we want to remain in Cincinnati: Compassionate, intelligent, and collegial. 

“Imam Soliman came to the United States as a refugee, fleeing violence in Egypt. The Jewish tradition reminds us that we too were once strangers, and that consequently, it is our duty to take care of the foreigner in our midst. Sadly, we are living through a moment of great intolerance toward immigrants. Our religious convictions require that we speak up for these individuals. They deserve respect, dignity, and–of course–due process.”

Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) released the following statement after local chaplain and Southwestern Ohio resident, Ayman Soliman, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement:

“Ayman Soliman was granted asylum in the United States and has spent years serving children and their families as the only Muslim chaplain at one of the best children’s hospitals in America.

“According to everyone we’ve spoken to, Ayman plays a unique and critical role – one that is difficult, if not impossible, to replace.

‘One family told me, ‘His prayers, his presence, and his kindness transcended any differences…He brought such peace and comfort in a time of overwhelming fear.’

“Deporting him would not make us any safer, but it would be a huge loss for our community.

“We are working with his lawyer and federal officials – and are fighting to ensure he gets the due process he is entitled to.”

Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, said detaining Imam Soliman, “a man of peace and compassion,” simply for adhering to the rules is not only terrifying — it is wrong. “This betrayal of justice sends a chilling message to all who believe in the promise of fairness and religious freedom in this country.”

Tramonte continued, “Imam Ayman doesn’t simply face danger if deported to Egypt, but certain death. His case is the reason why asylum exists in the first place. The fact that Ayman won his legal case years ago, and is now being forced to repeat it again from behind bars — or be sent back to a country where he will be killed — is just another torture. It’s an obvious example of the Islamophobia that exists in U.S. policy today.”