An Egyptian immigrant who has worked as a chaplain for a Cincinnati hospital was released Friday after weeks in detention.
Ayman Soliman was detained in July during a check-in with immigration officials. Soliman 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.
Speaking to supporters after his release Friday evening, Soliman thanked the community for advocating on his behalf and recalled how his fellow detainees celebrated as he was released. His press conference was paused briefly as people attended to afternoon prayers.
“I can’t find words to describe this moment. This is beyond a dream,” he said, as supporters including religious leaders and children held up signs reading “Finally Home,” “Home Is Here,” and “Immigrants Welcome here.” “I will always be indebted to every one of you.”
Nazly Mamedova, one of Soliman’s attorneys, said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent them a letter Friday stating that it has terminated his removal proceeding and reinstated his asylum. “All cases against him have been closed,” she said.
“I was so happy. I was crying and screaming,” Mamedova said. “It was just amazing to see him outside. I would go every night to jail and talk to him. Seeing him outside makes such a big difference. He was so much happier. He hasn’t seen the sun in a long time.”
In a statement, Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman expressed his relief at Soliman's release, stating he was “glad that Ayman has been released and is on his way home and back to our Cincinnati community.”
Soliman had been facing challenges with his immigration status, having been previously granted asylum in 2018 based on past persecution related to journalism in Egypt during the Arab Spring. His lawyers argue that his unjust detention was retaliatory, stemming from his board membership in an organization the government flagged amid scrutiny over politically sensitive affiliations.
