Salah Sultan

Salah Sultan in 2011

Salah Sultan (also transliterated Salah Soltan; born c. 1960) is an Islamic scholar, preacher, and academic. Among the titles and positions he has held are professor of Islamic Law at Cairo University, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs,[1] president of the American Center for Islamic Research, Columbus, Ohio, and member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, member of the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA),[2] and a "senior member" of the international Muslim Brotherhood.[3]

He was known in Egypt as "one of the most respected Islamic scholars in the country",[3] but then was sentenced to death after being found guilty of inciting murder in March 2015, in a case known as the "Rabaa control room"[3] or "Rabaa Operation Trial".[1] According to the Middle East Studies Association Committee on Academic Freedom, Sultan

was arrested on 21 September 2013 and charged with inciting violence, being part of a terrorist organization, plotting to cause chaos, and spreading false information. He was later sentenced to death and life in prison in two mass trials, namely Case No. 2210/2014, also known as the "Rabaa Operation Trial," and Case No. 8615/2013, also known as "Al-Fateh Mosque Trial."[1]

On 14 September 2022, MESA sent a letter to Egyptian officials protesting Sultan's treatment, the Egyptian judicial process, lack of medical treatment, etc. and calling for his release.[1]

Born in Egypt, Soltan attended Ohio State University in the United States, and graduated with a degree in economics. He returned to Egypt to work as a business manager at a petroleum services company, his daughter Hanaa Soltan stated in 2013.[4] He later became a professor of Islamic Law at Cairo University. Returning to the United States where he lived and worked in the US for over a decade and became a legal US permanent resident, he founded and served as the president of the Islamic American University in Dearborn, Michigan from 1999 to 2004. He has been accused of extremism by some websites,[3][5] and referred to as a "controversial" figure by the Los Angeles Times for his activities in Bahrain.[6]

In 2013 he returned to Egypt and participated in protests against the 2013 military coup deposing elected president Mohamed Morsi,[7] tweeting often about his activities.[4] He was arrested in September 2013 for his dissent.[7] In September 2017 an Egyptian court sentenced him to life in prison following a "mass trial marred by extensive due process and fair trial violations".[7]

As of 2023, it was reported by Human Rights Watch that he was imprisoned in Badr 1 prison, suffering from "life-threatening heart and liver diseases among other complex medical conditions" and "deprived" of adequate health care.[7]

Sultan has participated in conferences organized by the Islamic Association in Sweden, which has been led by Omar Mustafa and Abdirizak Waberi. His participation has been the subject of criticism.[8]

His sons, including Mohamed Soltan and grandchildren are all US citizens.[9] Mohamed, like his father, is an Egyptian American activist.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Powell, Eve Troutt (14 September 2022). "Dr. Salah Soltan Unlawfully Detained for Ten Years". Middle East Studies Association. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Wife's Obedience to Her Husband". IslamOnline. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Poole, Patrick (16 March 2015). "Top U.S. Islamic Cleric Dr. Salah Soltan Sentenced to Death in Egypt". PJ Media. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b Warikoo, Niraj (11 April 2015). "NEWS Ex-head of Islamic university sentenced to death in Egypt". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  5. ^ Merley, Steven. "Salah Sultan". Global Muslilm Brotherhood Daily Watch. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  6. ^ Daragahi, Borzou (7 July 2007). "Rift over Shiites is seen in Bahrain's royal court". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "Egypt: Detained Academic at Risk of Death". Human Rights Watch. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  8. ^ Granestrand, Lasse (25 March 2011). "Antisemitisk talare bjöds in av Islamiska förbundet" [Anti-Semitic speaker invited by the Islamic League]. Dagens Nyheter. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  9. ^ Granestrand, Lasse (25 March 2011). "Antisemitisk talare bjöds in av Islamiska förbundet" [Anti-Semitic speaker invited by the Islamic League]. Dagens Nyheter. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Rights Groups Call on Egyptian Authorities to Immediately Release Dr. Salah Soltan and All Wrongfully Detained Prisoners Sentenced in Case No. 1766 of 2022". Freedom House. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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