Dear Friends, Former Cincinnati Children's Hospital chaplain Imam Ayman Soliman was recently held in solitary confinement in ICE detention at the Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio. A Rolling Stone article about Imam Soliman’s detention highlights the devastating impacts on one's mental health that can come from just a few days in isolation. Furthermore, Imam Soliman apparently was placed in segregation for seeking to practice his religion – namely praying with other Muslims in a common area – though the jail contends the location in the common area that Imam Soliman sought to use was denied. This is reflective of carceral settings across the country, where too often people end up in solitary confinement for non-violent infractions of rules. Also, the Butler County Jail has a history of allegations of abuse of immigrants, and the jail allegedly has used solitary to restrict immigrants’ access to their lawyers. As immigration detention across the country has expanded to more than 60,000 immigrants, we highlight Imam Soliman’s story to note that there are so many other untold stories. From overcrowding to medical neglect to insufficient food to the use of solitary confinement, torture and abuse is rampant across existing and hastily constructed or contracted facilities. Imam Soliman’s story is also illustrative of the national efforts to force self-deportations. Rev. Elizabeth Diop told Rolling Stone: “He said to me, and I’m paraphrasing here, that it seemed like they were trying to torture him into leaving rather than fighting to stay.” More than ever, your voice and witness are needed to end torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in our country. Our care, actions, and hope are crucial to the wellbeing of those being marginalized, and to our collective humanity. We encourage you to: | |
