Senate Democrats urge Egypt to release cleric who advocated for the killing of ‘any Zionist’.

Salah Soltan’s Children ​Support Democratic Candidates and Campaigns

Senate Democrats are advocating for the release ​of an ‌imprisoned ⁢Muslim cleric by the Egyptian government. This cleric has ⁤made disturbing ⁤statements, ⁢including calling for the murder of Israeli tourists, spreading the false ⁤claim that Jews use Christian blood to make bread, and proposing⁤ a holy war⁤ to “obliterate America.”

The support for​ Salah Soltan, who holds a U.S. green card and was imprisoned during Egypt’s crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013, comes after his ⁢children have donated significant amounts of money to Democratic lawmakers.

The Senate Appropriations ⁢Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has included a provision in the 2024 State‌ Department⁣ appropriations bill that would require the State Department to consider ‍Salah Soltan’s case as a condition for foreign aid to Egypt. Senator Chris Coons (D., Del.) has ⁢put forward an ‍amendment to the ⁢bill supporting ​Soltan’s release, which has been approved by‍ the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Egyptian government has⁢ faced​ criticism for human rights​ abuses and unjust imprisonments. However, Soltan’s advocacy of violence against Jews raises questions about why Senate ‍Democrats have ‌chosen to highlight him as one of the few prisoners deserving ⁢of ⁤U.S. government support, especially⁢ considering his family’s financial support for the Democratic Party.

Soltan is a vocal anti-Semite who, in 2011, issued a religious decree calling for the ‌death of Israel’s‍ ambassador​ and Israeli tourists in Egypt. He has‍ also spread the anti-Semitic trope of‌ “blood libel” by claiming that Jews use‌ the blood of Christians to make bread during Passover.

Soltan’s children have actively lobbied for their​ father’s release and have made substantial donations to Democratic campaigns. For example, his daughter‌ Hanaa‌ donated $47,000 to President Joe Biden’s campaign and $18,600 to the Democratic National Committee in 2020. His son Mohamed donated⁣ at least $10,000 to Biden’s campaign in the same year‌ and has⁣ made other significant donations to Democratic politicians.

Despite concerns about Soltan’s health struggles in‍ prison, it is important to consider the disturbing‌ nature​ of ‍his beliefs‍ and statements when⁣ evaluating the support he ‌is receiving from Senate Democrats.