Ayman Soliman, a 51-year-old former chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, will remain in Butler County Jail following a bond hearing that did not favor his release. Soliman, also an imam and Egyptian immigrant, appeared virtually in a Cleveland immigration court this Tuesday. Despite the amendment of charges against him, the judge has yet to grant bond, leaving space for additional filings through Friday, reported LOCAL12.
The government initially accused Soliman of supporting terrorism through his past work with an Egyptian charitable organization allegedly connected to the Muslim Brotherhood—a group deemed terrorist by Egypt but not by the U.S. His attorney, Robert Ratliff, has stated that obtaining Soliman's release promptly is becoming increasingly complex, as the government is using this past allegation as a rationale to assert that immigration courts cannot conduct bond hearings. Informed by FOX19, Ratliff explained that the shift in the government's stance now focuses on removability due to Soliman's terminated asylum, with no legal status currently in the country.
In 2018, Soliman had been granted asylum after escaping political violence in Egypt, where he previously served on the board of a non-profit organization. But action to revoke his asylum began in December 2024 due to a belief by a Chicago immigration officer that he had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. His defense, however, maintains not only the absence of ties to said group but also emphasizes the charitable nature of Soliman's affiliations in Egypt, as conveyed in an interview with Ratliff by WLWT.
The case continues to develop amidst legal disputes and reconvened hearings, with the recent bond hearing suspended and set to resume on July 29. This delay leaves Soliman detained as legal arguments unfold in the federal immigration court of Cleveland, which handles ICE-related cases for most Ohio counties. "The group that Mr. Soliman worked for is not connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, is not a terrorist organization and does in fact provide charitable works in Egypt," Ratliff was quoted saying to WLWT, emphasizing the defense's stance on Soliman's past activities.
