SALAH
SOLTAN

Background and Academic Work

Dr. Salah Soltan is a distinguished academic whose scholarship and peaceful advocacy have made him a target of Egyptian authorities. His prolonged detention is part of a broader pattern of repression against intellectuals, scholars, and human rights defenders in Egypt.

Dr. Soltan holds permanent U.S. residency and is the father of five and grandfather of five American grandchildren. For over a decade, members of the Soltan family have faced state harassment and retaliation because of their human rights work. On 24 June 2025, Dr. Soltan's son Mohammed, a U.S. citizen, was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment in Case No. 1766 of 2022. The verdict is widely understood as punishment for his efforts to secure his father's release.

Arrest and Detention

Dr. Soltan has been arbitrarily detained for nearly 10 years. He faces charges that include inciting violence, membership in a terrorist organization, plotting to cause chaos, and spreading false information. These charges are widely recognized as attempts to criminalize peaceful academic work and human rights advocacy.

Between June 2020 and August 2022, he was subjected to enforced disappearance. His whereabouts were concealed from family and counsel, leaving loved ones in anguish and uncertainty about whether he was alive.

Torture and Inhumane Conditions

On 13 March 2016, Dr. Soltan was assaulted by a prison officer, who broke his jaw. The assault is emblematic of the violence he has endured throughout his detention. For years, he has been held in prolonged solitary confinement in Badr 1 Prison, denied sunlight, denied contact with his family, and subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

The conditions under which he is held violate the UN Nelson Mandela Rules and amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under international law.

Medical Emergency and Denial of Care

Dr. Soltan's health has deteriorated severely under prolonged solitary confinement. On 18 June 2025, he suffered a serious medical episode in his cell, losing consciousness and later regaining it with no memory of what had occurred. He was taken to the prison medical center, where an MRI was performed. Physicians expressed concern that he may have suffered a stroke or internal brain hemorrhage.

Despite these warnings, authorities have withheld both a diagnosis and updates on his condition. Family members with medical expertise reported on 29 June 2025 that Dr. Soltan's fainting episodes are recurring and that continued solitary confinement, coupled with lack of adequate medical attention, places his life at imminent risk. The deliberate denial of medical care may amount to torture.

Legal Violations

Dr. Soltan's case exemplifies multiple severe human rights abuses. He has been subjected to arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, denial of medical care, inhumane prison conditions, and denial of fair trial rights. The charges against him—such as inciting violence and spreading false information—are being used to criminalize peaceful academic and activist work.

Seven of the 19 individuals convicted in Case No. 1766 of 2022 remain in detention in Egypt, exposed to systemic violations. Among them is activist Moaz El-Sharkawy, imprisoned in Badr 3 Prison, sentenced to 10 years without trial, subjected to enforced disappearance for over 20 days, denied physical visits, harassed through family intimidation, deprived of basic necessities, and allowed only one hour of exercise per week.

International Context

Dr. Soltan is now 66 years old. His rightful place is not in a prison cell but in a classroom, sharing knowledge, surrounded by family and loved ones. Urgent action is required. He must receive specialized medical care, improved detention conditions, and either immediate and unconditional release or a fair trial in line with international standards. Continued inaction places full responsibility for his health and safety on Egyptian authorities.